COVID-19: Malaysia could extend movement restrictions in the country if needed

Malaysia will decide next week wher its two-week restricted movement order (RMO) to contain  coronavirus outbreak needs to be extended beyond end of month. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on March 23 that government may consider extending movement restrictions by up to two weeks, and would anunce more ecomic stimulus to soften blow from coronavirus outbreak and weak oil prices. He also said national security council would meet on March 30 to discuss on what will be subsequent steps after current curbs on movement and businesses expire at end of month, as per reports.

government h anunced nationwide curbs on March 16, after 190 new infections were detected previous day, doubling number of existing cases to 428. 

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Since restricted movement order, RMO was imposed on March 18, Malaysia has mand to avoid an exponential increase as seen in some or countries, which Prime Minister reportedly said, shows that order h positive results. However, number of new cases continues to increase over 100 daily, surging to 1,306 in total, and past week saw first 11 deaths reported in Malaysia due to Covid-19, as per reports. March 18-31 restriction, which mandated closure of most commercial activities and border closures, say experts, needs to be extended by up to two months.

Oil prices hit ir lowest in 17 years

However, ecomic impact of RMO has been sorely felt in a week. Coupled with oil prices hitting ir lowest in 17 years, fossil fuel-linked sectors make up a fifth of Malaysia’s gross domestic product, with which re are growing fears that over a million employees could end up jobless from shutdown.

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Tan Sri Muhyiddin said that a comprehensive stimulus pack, following on an initial RM20 billion (S$6.56 billion) that has been launched last month, will be unveiled on 30th March. He also anunced that that 12 million workers, d below 55, would be allowed to withdraw RM500 monthly for next year from ir Employees Provident Fund accounts. government estimates that this will generate about RM40 billion of funds in sts from next month, as per reports.

It was also revealed that RM130 million will be divided equally among Malaysia’s 13 states to aid small trers, Covid-19 victims and front liners in fight against virus, as per reports.

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