KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — The government has advised businesses to stay shut and consumers to avoid crowds or commercial premises if they still feel unsafe, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

The advice comes amid concern that the government’s decision to relax the movement control order (MCO) with conditions starting May 4 would trigger fresh waves of Covid-19 infections.

"Even if we have permitted sectors [to reopen], they still have a choice,” he said at the National Security Council’s daily Covid-19 press briefing.

"For example, we allow a restaurant to reopen and people can dine in that particular restaurant provided they meet certain SOPs like social distancing.

"But if the owner still feels unsafe, they can operate by only allowing take-aways. It’s up to them,” he added.

Some public health experts have criticised the government’s Covid-19 exit plan as premature, saying the conditional MCO (CMCO) is far too drastic from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s pledge to allow for a gradual reopening of the economy.

Despite the criticism, the Perikatan Nasional administration said it needed to lift restrictions to minimise job losses and prevent large scale closures, especially among small businesses.

Yet Ismail also suggested the government took cognisance of the concerns, but said the authorities have prepared contingency plans, such as shutting down a locality in the event infection cases spike.

"Experts have said that Covid-19 will be with us for at least two years,” the senior minister said.

"But does that mean we have to continue the MCO for two more years? We cannot do that.”

Several states have said it would delay implementing the CMCO, although it agreed to lift certain restrictions.

Currently, six states from both sides of the political divide — Selangor, Penang, Pahang, Sabah, Negeri Sembilan, and Kedah — have decided to ignore Muhyiddin’s call to open up all economic sectors.

The Perikatan Nasional Sarawak government was among the earliest to delay the CMCO.