Flexibility given under the CMCO only meant for those capable of complying with the SOPs stipulated by the MoH.
The perception that the Movement Control Order (MCO) has run its course once the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) takes effect is a wrong one, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
He said the MCO was still in force but will now take a social compliance and self-discipline approach when it comes to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) enforced to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The MCO is still in force.
“We only relaxed some restrictions based on the conditions set by the World Health Organisation in order to lift the MCO…for example, our border security has been tightened, not loosened,” he said at the Health Ministry’s (MoH) Covid-19 media briefing yesterday.
“We haven’t ended the MCO. The perception that we have stopped MCO is wrong.
“People think they can celebrate tomorrow because MCO has ended, but this is the wrong perception as the MCO is still in force.
“We only relaxed some restrictions based on the conditions set by the World Health Organisation in order to lift the MCO…for example, our border security has been tightened, not loosened,” he said at his daily Covid-19 briefing in Putrajaya yesterday.
He said the SOPs under CMCO were the same ones used in South Korea, Taiwan and Sweden, countries which managed to contain the pandemic without enforcing any form of movement restrictions and instead rely on a high level of social compliance and self-discipline.
“Those countries did not need an MCO but only used SOPs in order to bring down their Covid-19 infections.”
Dr Noor Hisham added that there needs to be solid cooperation between the government and the public for the pandemic to be contained.
He said Malaysia has implemented four MCO phases and through them, managed to flatten the Covid-19 curve.
Dr Noor Hisham said flexibility given under the CMCO was only meant for those capable of complying with the SOPs stipulated by the MOH.
“If there are states, companies or businesses which are unable to comply with the CMCO directives, they will reinstate MCO directives that apply the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
“Those who feel they are unable to comply with the SOP approach, we advise them to remain at home and only go out for important matters,” he said.