KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The 14-day movement control order, which takes effect today, saw compliance by the public to the order issued by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The roads in the city were clear, despite today being a working day, with no normal morning peak hour congestion.
Public transportation including buses and train services remained in operations as usual in line with the order that calls all essential services to continue.
The order entails comprehensive restriction on movements and public gatherings, including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
With the enforcement of the order, all houses of worship and business premises should be closed, except for supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores selling daily necessities
The closure also involves government and private premises, except for those providing essential services, namely water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transport, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire brigade , prison, port, airport, security, defense, cleaning, retail and food supplies.
According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador, the movement control is not a curfew order that totally prohibits people from leaving their homes as a curfew is implemented for the sake of national security and public safety.
People have been also advised against panic buying considering the Prime Minister’s assurance of sufficient supply of essential items.
While there had been some panic among the people following a restriction order on interstate travel that required people to get approval from nearest police stations to do their travel out of town, the restriction has been lifted since. Many had turned up at police stations for their travel approvals causing build up of crowds, the very thing that the authorities wanted to avoid to contain the virus spread.
The best thing to do would be to stay home and wait it out, people have been advised.
— BERNAMA