Unlocking Asean’s full potential

No lockdown: Malaysians can expect extra security measures and lots of cop on the roads in the Klang Valley because of the presence of major world leaders but not the dreaded ‘lockdown’. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

LOCKDOWN. It’s not a word that Klang Valley folk ever want to hear again. It sends chills down the spine for many of us. The memories of not being able to leave the house, our movements controlled and limited, masking up for fear of Covid-19 all come flooding back with that word. It has been five years and nobody wants to go through that experience again.

So when Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, addressing a group of local and foreign media, said there will be a “total lockdown” for the duration of the upcoming 47th Asean Summit (Oct 26 to 28), there was a lot of uneasiness. Social media was abuzz with the news. Wisma Putra was bombarded with queries. Some officials are wondering why the Foreign Minister, who is normally careful with his remarks, said what he said – total lockdown.