Warning of tsunami-like third wave of Covid-19 if Malaysians don’t play their part now.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has urged all Malaysians to take the movement control order seriously and stay at home.
The order takes effect today until March 31.
He urged the people to help the Health Ministry by playing their own specific roles towards breaking the transmission of the Covid-19 chain.
He said Malaysia could suffer a third wave of Covid-19 infections reaching tsunami-like proportions unless Malaysians strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Dr Noor Hisham made the grim prediction as he reminded Malaysians to stay at home as much as possible to avoid Covid-19 from continuing to spread.
“Today is the first day of our ‘movement restriction order’. In simple words ‘please stay at home’ and distance yourself from others.
“We have a small window of opportunity to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission. Please help MoH to play your part, as each and every one of us has the responsibility to take all the precautionary measures to keep ourselves and families safe,” he wrote in a brief message on his Facebook page earlier today.
“Failure is not an option here, otherwise, we might face the 3rd wave of the virus. The next one will be as big as a tsunami, more so if we have a lackadaisical attitude.
“I plead to all Malaysians, please take this movement restriction order seriously. ‘Stay at home’,” he concluded.
Dr Noor Hisham’s plea comes amid numerous sightings of people eating at coffee shops in defiance of the MCO which came into effect today.
In Subang Jaya, a restaurant adjacent to the SS15 wet market was openly serving customers at its premises.
In Brickfields, a few stalls were spotted serving people drinks.
In Kuala Langat, council officers were forced to disperse traders at an outdoor market, saying police reports would be lodged if they continued defying the directive.
Meanwhile, Subang MP Wong Chen has slammed Malaysians who are acting irresponsibly despite the movement Control order.
Noting that there’s still traffic on the roads and walkways, Wong said, “From my window, I can still see cars driven and people walking about. There are joggers and people taking their babies out for a stroll! Only difference from yesterday, is the traffic volume is around 30% of the usual. Still, this is sheer madness, the roads should almost be empty.”
Also taking a swipe at the authorities and the selfishness of Malaysians, Wong said, “The authorities are clearly unprepared and the selfish and tidak apa attitudes of many Malaysians are resulting in unintended exodus from the cities. These acts will in fact spread the virus further into semi-rural and rural areas.”