NSC meets on Tuesday to discuss possible MCO extension

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Security Council (NSC) will have a special meeting on Tuesday (Feb 2) to discuss a possible extension of the movement control order, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and we will hear the report from the Health Ministry before any decision is made." he told reporters after visiting roadblocks at Sentul and Gombak on Monday (Feb 1).

When asked if more sectors should be closed owing to the high number of daily Covid-19 cases, especially within the last three days, he said there has to be a balance.

"We don't want our rakyat to die from Covid-19 but at the same time we also don't want them to die of starvation. I went to a roadside stall to buy food recently and the operator told me that their income had decreased by as much as 50% because they can only offer take-out,” he said.

"Some of them depleted their savings completely during the last MCO which lasted three months. Can you imagine how they will survive if we implement the same MCO now?" he said.

Ismail Sabri added that this was why it was important to strike a balance between safeguarding lives as well as economic interests.

He said some small and micro business operators rely on their daily income to put food on the table for their families.

As for Chinese New Year, Ismail Sabri said standard operating procedures for the celebrations are being drawn up.

The Senior Minister (Security) said the NSC, Health Ministry and National Unity Ministry will come up with the SOP.

"The Technical Committee has asked them to come up with the SOP and they are currently drawing it up and will present it to us soon.

"We do not want to make any decisions now as the status of the MCO could change within two weeks," he said, adding that the SOP would be announced one week before Chinese New Year or at the latest, two to three days in advance.