Muhyiddin: Conditional MCO best move to curb further spread of Covid-19

PETALING JAYA: It was right for the National Security Council to declare a conditional movement control order (MCO) to stop more people from being infected, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said even though there were areas within the state that were categorised as yellow and green zones, Muhyiddin said the government decided on a preemptive and proactive move to ensure the number of cases did not rise.

"Before we decided to impose the conditional MCO in Selangor, certain areas were already under a targeted MCO but it was correct for the National Security Council (NSC) to declare a conditional MCO because cases have been on the rise all over the state, ” said Muhyiddin on Tuesday (Oct 13).

He said it was also the right move for schools to be closed to allay parents' fears.

"Even if they were open, parents were afraid to send their children to school so it was decided for schools to be closed for two weeks and moved online while we monitored the situation," he said.

Muhyiddin also said similar moves to control the Covid-19 situation in Sabah was disrupted when a state election was held in September following the dissolution of the state assembly in July.

He said the infringement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the time led to an increase of cases in the state and created problems.

However, Muhyiddin said the government has resumed work to control the situation there and RM15mil has also been allocated to manage the situation.

"We are looking at it very thoroughly," he said.

He said the government will be taking a multi-dimensional approach to the problem and added that the NSC will be working closely with Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun to manage the situation in Sabah.

"There will be a rise in numbers but after a while, it will plateau before going down in the next two to three weeks. Things are under control," he said.

Separately, Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairman said that the coalition will assess the situation before fielding a candidate in the Batu Sapi by-election on December 5.

"We will look at the situation before we decide because there are allocated seats under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

"Even if Perikatan does not contest, maybe the others will make a decision," he said.

GRS, which is made up of Perikatan, Barisan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah won in the recent state election.

The Batu Sapi seat fell vacant following the death of its MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong on Oct 2 from a lung infection.

Barisan and Parti Cinta Sabah led by former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, have decided not to contest in the by-election.