PETALING JAYA: Just because the government is relaxing the movement control order (MCO) from Monday (May 4), it doesn't mean people can move about as freely as before the MCO was imposed, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Senior Minister (Security Cluster) said the MCO was still very much being enforced under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
"The conditional MCO is merely a more relaxed version of the MCO and doesn't in any way mean MCO is over.
"The same standard operating procedures remain," he said.
Ismail Sabri said the relaxation of the rules was in line with the government's earlier promise that MCO rules would be gradually loosened.
"For example, businesses had to close at 8pm but under the conditional MCO, maybe they would be allowed to operate until 10pm," he said.
He said the government also considered areas that have been declared green zones before deciding on the conditional MCO.
Ismail Sabri said it wasn't fair to impose the same strict rules in an area free of the disease.
Despite more relaxed rules, Ismail Sabri said everybody should be more disciplined about following the MCO rules for the sake of their own health.
"Continue to practise social distancing and good hygiene," he said.
On Friday (May 1), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the conditional MCO will start from May 4 and certain business sectors have been allowed to operate.
Separately, Ismail Sabri defended the government's move to round up 586 undocumented migrants in Masjid India, adding that the government was not cruel towards them and their welfare was well cared for.
"They were tested for Covid-19 and several NGOs even extended help by giving them food.
"But the law on undocumented migrants has not changed and they are still wrong for breaching our borders," he said.
He said the undocumented migrants were later taken to the Immigration depot where he said they will continue to be well cared for.
