SHAH ALAM, May 19 — Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari has today said that the state government does not rule out the need to impose a full-scale movement control order (MCO) in the state as long as the decision is made along with a holistic approach.
The Selangor Menteri Besar had reiterated that the jurisdiction to implement the movement restrictions lies in the hands of the National Security Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and under the jurisdiction of the Federal government.
“If we were offered to prioritise between lives and livelihood, of course, the lives of the people would be the priority.
“As I have stated yesterday, we would accept a total lockdown but with hopes that it would be carried out holistically and would take into account other aspects, such as the marginalised group, mental health (of the people), social conditions and such, which we have learned from the first MCO,” said Amirudin during a press conference broadcast live on Facebook, here today.
Citing earlier reports that had quoted Selangor Task Force for Covid-19 chairman Datuk Seri Dr Dzukefly Ahmad to have said that the state government rejects the proposed full-scale lockdown, Amirudin said that the reports were partially accurate and reiterated the Selangor government’s stance that a holistic and comprehensive approach has to be met to impose a full-scale MCO in order to cushion the social and economic impact.
He said among the initiatives that should be taken include an efficient online learning programme, clear standard operating procedures, cash aid channelled directly to the low-income (B40) group, and automatic moratorium to the affected groups.
“A clear exit plan has to also be drawn and mass testing should be carried out. We have to conduct mass screenings in order to effectively isolate the positive cases,” said Amirudin, stating that the infectivity rate in the state from the screening operations held in Hulu Kelang and Bukit Antarabangsa saw an increase to between 7 and 9 per cent from the average 4 to 5 per cent.
“Lockdown is a temporary measure. But if we must enforce it, we have to do it holistically and comprehensively. At the moment, it is still at the discussion stage and the power to announce and details on the MCO is under the Federal government, where we are also called in to give our views.”
Selangor today recorded 2,251 daily Covid-19 cases out of the total figure of 6,075 registered nationwide.
The state government had previously said that the number of new cases in Selangor is expected to rise, following the active monitoring of the Covid-19 situation in the state through the free screenings held across the 56 state constituencies beginning May 8 until June 10.
