KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that Malaysia will be placed under a nationwide restricted movement order from March 18 to March 31 to keep in control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The order, the first in the country’s history, was announced by the prime minister in a broadcast this evening brought live to the people from the national television.
Accounting that a total of 125 new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported as of noon Monday, that has brought the total cases in Malaysia to 553, the premier also declared the closure of schools among other measures.
He also said that there was no reason to panic and called on Malaysians to stay calm, while assuring them of steady food supply and no disruption in the critical services.
These would cover water, electricity, telecommunications, transport, fuel, broadcast, finance, banking, health, firefighting, ports, airports, security, defence, retail and food supply.
The Movement Control Order was made under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967, Muhyiddin said.
Muhyiddin said the order entails comprehensive restriction on movements and public gatherings throughout the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
Queries on the restricted movement order can be directed to the National Operations Management Centre at 03-88882010 from noon March 17.Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
With the enforcement of this order, all houses of worship and business premises should be closed, except for supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores selling daily necessities, he said.
The prime minister said the order also means that all pre-schools, government and private schools, fully residential schools, international schools, tahfiz centres, and other primary, secondary and pre-university educational institutions should be closed during the same period.
It also involves the closure of all private and public institutions of higher learning and skills training institutes in the country, he added.