Seven States Won’t Adopt Conditional MCO, to Maintain Status Quo
Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak have decided not to follow the Federal Government’s move to relax the movement control order (MCO), which includes allowing most businesses to reopen with conditions.
Selangor and Negeri Sembilan have said they would restrict the number of businesses when operations resume on Monday (4 May 2020).
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said the state would not follow the implementation of the conditional MCO rules on Monday.
He said that a special security commission would meet on Tuesday to study the implementation of conditional MCO to ensure it was suitable for the state, saying it would scrutinise the requirements and guidelines announced by the Federal Government.
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In a statement, he said Kedah would not compromise on the safety and welfare of the people, and he urged Kedahans to stay at home, adopt good hygiene and practise social distancing.
The Negeri Sembilan government, meanwhile, decided against allowing food and beverage outlets to open for dine-in for now, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
The state government also decided not to allow any sports or social activities to resume, as the number of active cases was still high.
Aminuddin said although the state agreed with the Federal Government on opening up certain sectors of the economy from tomorrow, it decided that some sectors should remain closed after getting public feedback.
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“Some restaurant operators have also voiced their concerns about allowing dine-ins for now. So we will continue with the earlier agreement of only allowing takeaways, and this includes food trucks,” he told reporters after a visit to the wet market here on Sunday (3 May).
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state would review the preparedness of local authorities in handling the resumption of operations by companies.
It is understood that the state government is seeking the views of the various councils on their readiness to carry out enforcement and monitoring in the country’s most populous and industrialised state.
Penang said it would implement the conditional MCO “in three phases” starting 4 May. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that although it is necessary to restart the economy in the state, it cannot take the risk to completely loosen MCO.
“The state is preparing the guidelines from 4 May to 8 May, further updates will be given soon after.
“The next phase will be from 9 May to 12 May and then 13 May,” he said in a live press conference on social media on Sunday.
Pahang also indicated that they will be maintaining the status quo on MCO for now. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdi Wan Ismail said although the state government supported the Prime Minister’s announcement on the conditional MCO, the details still had to be worked out specifically for Pahang.
“The Pahang government has to study and fine-tune it to match the current state of the Covid-19 outbreak in Pahang.
Sabah said it would not be adopting the conditional MCO. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state would maintain the restrictions put in phase four of the MCO which will end on 12 May.
Sarawak also decided against the implementation of conditional MCO until it had studied the implications towards the state, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) announced.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the state government would evaluate the approach according to the needs and uniqueness of the state.
Source: Seven states won’t adopt conditional MCO, to maintain status quo (updated)
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