The government has once again decided to extend the current implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 2.0 to two additional weeks. The new end date for MCO 2.0 is now 18 February 2021 according to the announcement made by Senior Minister for Security Cluster, Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
When it was announced back on 11 January, the implementation was supposed to end on 26 January. However, the end date was then moved to 4 February before today’s announcement which revealed that MCO 2.0 will go on for another two weeks.
Once again, the directive applies to the whole country with the exception of Sarawak. Existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) which include restrictions on the interstate and interdistrict movements also remained in place.
In response to members of the media during today’s MCO daily briefing session, Minister Ismail has also revealed that the Attorney General’s Chambers are working on a draft ordinand that would look at increasing the compound for those that violate the MCO SOPs that have been put in place by the government. Late last month, the Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Hamid Bador had said that the RM 1,000 compound should be increased further.
With the number of positive COVID-19 cases that are still in the four-digit region, the second extension of MCO 2.0 does not come as a surprise. Hence, we would like to urge you to continue adhering to a high level of personal hygiene and please wash your hands often as well as practice safe social distancing and wear a face mask if you have to leave your home.
(Images: RTM live feed / Facebook, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia / Facebook.)
