Senior minister: Military to help enforce Covid-19 shutdown from Sunday

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — The Malaysian Armed Forces will deploy on Sunday to assist civilian authorities in enforcing the Movement Control Order, Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

Malaysia is in the third day of the two-week MCO that is in effect until March 31 as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country.

“In the meeting today, it was decided that the military help the police in monitoring the events happening currently. Especially in ensuring that the people abide by the order to stay put in their homes.

“The military will be deployed beginning this Sunday. So, we are confident that with the help from the military, the control order would be enforced better and we hope the people would continue to abide by the government order,” Ismail said.

He added that the police’s report on the MCO showed that there was an increase in compliance, and thanked the public for their cooperation in staying indoors.

“However, there are still incidents where many are still ignorant of the order from the government. In fact there are some who were ignorant of the orders given by the police,” he said.

Ismail added that at the moment, the police were taking a soft approach to enforcement but would begin applying the order according to the letter of the law if the public remained stubborn.

In the press conference involving only a very small group of media members, Ismail also sought to address rumours of an impending emergency declaration from him under the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I do not know which defence minister that was, as I do not intend (to do that) nor is it in the government's plan to announce a state of emergency.

“However this message was already from yesterday evening till this morning, saying that military assets have also been deployed in preparations for the state of emergency.

“Do not easily trust the spread of fake news like that was spread yesterday,”he said.

Ismail reminded Malaysians that all ministries have their respective hotlines available for information and clarification.

On why the military was being deployed, he said the Health Ministry was authorised to request such support if needed using Section 5 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Malaysia entered into the third day of the movement restriction order that will last until March 31.

To date, Malaysia has recorded a total of 900 cases, with 110 new patients reported yesterday and two deaths to date.