Partial lockdown implemented across Malaysian states

Responding to a rise in COVID-19 infections, the Malaysian government has moved to reimpose the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in the states of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.

Effective from October 14-27, the CMCO will put a halt to all religious, sports, education and social activities. Inter-district travels will also not be allowed, although exceptions could be given to employees traveling on work purposes, which they must produce in the form of their work passes and authorisation from their employers.

Other restrictions include limiting only two people from each household to purchase groceries.

Earlier this month, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government has not considered re-enforcing a national lockdown as COVID-19 infections continue to raise in the country.

He said, “For now, we are not thinking of a total lockdown because if it is carried out one more time, it can leave a large impact that we’re afraid would crash the social and economic system in the country.”

READ: Malaysia continues to put in place movement restrictions

Besides the aforementioned states, most of Malaysia is currently under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), which has been extended through to the end of 2020. Under the RMCO, most businesses in the country have been allowed to resume operations, albeit under stringent measures such as social distancing and the mandatory wearing of face masks.