World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Lo Ying-ru Jacqueline said the latest Movement Control Order (MCO) is the right move to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the third national lockdown yesterday, which takes effect from tomorrow until June 7.
Dr Lo told Bernama TV’s Mid-day Update programme that with hospital wards and intensive care units filling up, and with more healthcare workers getting infected, there is a possibility our healthcare system could collapse.
Dr Lo said the people should support the move as many countries did the same to curb the pandemic.
England also had three national lockdowns in the past year.
“It is very difficult for the government to announce the drastic measure, but clearly, WHO recommends that the community be a part of the government’s measures … the government will not be able to do it,” she said.
“It should also be kept in mind that the pandemic situation can change very quickly, and society needs to continue to listen to every healthcare authority’s directive.”
Separately, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said a blanket moratorium on loans is not the answer, despite the country’s third MCO.
Banks offered a moratorium on loans during the initial MCO last year.
She urged those with loans to approach banks to see how they can manage their debt.
Nor Shamsiah said banks had payment plans, including targeted loan moratoriums, which were offered to borrowers who had lost their jobs or suffered a reduction in income.
Nor Shamsiah also said Malaysia’s economy is expected to expand between 6 and 7.5 per cent this year, compared with a contraction of 5.6 per cent a year ago.
Here’s the news round-up of The News Normal today.
LIM: INVITE OPPOSITION LEADERS TO SIT IN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has asked Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to include opposition leaders in the National Security Council to restore public confidence following a series of U-turns on the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He also said the double-standards in enforcement, where VIPs and ministers were let off scot-free or penalised leniently as compared to the rakyat, had exacerbated this public trust deficit.
Lim said the battle against Covid-19 can only be won by working together and urged Muhyiddin to reopen Parliament.
MALAYSIA IN AUTOPILOT MODE, SAYS DAP MP
DAP Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Chan Foong Hin described the Perikatan Nasional Federal Government as being “headless”.
He said there is a clear loss of leadership in the Perikatan Nasional Federal Government after a series of blunders through numerous policy U-turns and contradictory statements by cabinet ministers.
“It is as if the federal government is in auto-pilot mode without a pilot in the cockpit,” said Chan.
He added after the previous Movement Control Order (MCO), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said there would be no more blanket lockdowns nationwide.
“However, that has been conveniently forgotten with a nationwide MCO from May 12 to June 7.”
‘MOST MINISTERS AREN’T QUALIFIED TO RUN MINISTRIES’
There must be professional courtesy between politicians and civil servants in keeping to the confines of their responsibilities. The Executive must respect the separation of powers and not manipulate the civil service to serve their political agenda, writes Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin.
