Najib questions move to relax MCO, says it poses a risk to frontliners

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has questioned the need to relax the movement control order (MCO), which is due to end on May 12.

He said that doing so would be a risk to the health services and frontliners and questioned if they would be ready for a new cluster of cases.

“Slow and steady. Sector by sector. Gradually. There is no need to rush. Don't do it all at once because it will be difficult to control, ” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (May 1).

Najib highlighted the 57 new cases of Covid-19 that were detected on Friday, saying that the disease was still spreading in the community.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced on Friday that almost all economic sectors and business activities would be allowed to resume business, subject to conditions and standard operating procedures, starting Monday (May 4).

Muhyiddin said the decision was made following advice from the Health Ministry and after lengthy discussions during the Economic Action Council, National Security Council and Cabinet meeting.

Najib said that Canada and Japan experienced a rise in cases after ending the lockdown in their countries.

He also questioned why the announcement was made on a Friday and a public holiday, saying that more time would have been needed for preparations.

Najib said that restaurant operators for example, would need time to rearrange their tables, purchase sanitisers, reorganise work schedules, prepare signboards on social distancing and drawing lines for lining-up among other things.

He added that one week could have been given for this, with business reopened on May 11 and also said the same could be applied to public transport.

“It should be done gradually and not suddenly like this, ” said Najib.