NSC to decide if full-scale MCO needed in meeting Friday (May 21), MBs to attend, says source

PETALING JAYA: The National Security Council will meet at 3pm on Friday (May 21) to decide if there should be a full-scale movement control order implemented, says a source.

"Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will chair the meeting at Putrajaya today and NSC is expected to make a decision if movement of people should be further controlled to contain the current surge in Covid-19 cases.

"Seven state heads have been invited to sit in during the meeting as they are also members of the NSC," said the source, without revealing who the seven are.

The source further said that eight permanent members of the NSC would make the final decision after weighing all the information presented by the various ministers, federal agencies and state governments.

The eight permanent members, according to the source, are the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Health Minister, Home Minister, Chief Secretary, NSC director, Armed Forces Chief and the Inspector General of Police.

Another source said that all the pros and cons of imposing a full-scale MCO would be presented with all facts and figures to be discussed before a decision is made.

"It will be once again on the axis of saving lives and saving livelihoods, as we have to save both. While the people's lives are of utmost priority, livelihoods too are a top priority as an economic collapse will also affect people's lives," said the source.

In the past few days, the number of cases have surged past 6,000 daily and death toll exceeding 2,000 cases.

This has prompted calls for the government to impose a full-scale lockdown, as was done last March during the first MCO.

However, some argued that as Selangor was a main economic hub, shutting down economic activities could cost the country billions in losses daily.

On Thursday (May 20), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan also stated that a full-scale MCO was among the measures to be considered by the NSC.

"Mentris besar and chief ministers will also sit in the 3pm meeting," said Takiyuddin in Kota Baru to reporters.