Any type of Covid-19 ‘lockdown' decision up to Putrajaya, Selangor MB, NSC

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari speaks during a press conference in Shah Alam

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, May 19 — Today, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari emphasized that any sort of containment measures, such as the declaration of full lockdowns, rely only on the federal government's and the National Security Council's ability to stop the spread of Covid-19 (NSC).

Amirudin said the Selangor state government has been constant in its stance that it will welcome the possibility of a total lockdown or increased restrictions, with the hope that it will be done holistically, at a news conference to clarify public misconceptions and misunderstanding.

“Once again, the authority to declare any containment measures is subject to the federal government's jurisdiction, with state governments being invited to submit recommendations.

“In keeping with yesterday's and today's statements, the state administration welcomes any lockdown in the hopes that it would be viewed holistically in terms of other living factors such as the marginalized, mental health, and social wellness, as we learned from the first countrywide MCO.

“This is so that we can determine a win-win situation for all parties, including public health, general well-being, and the state's economy,” he said during a news conference here.

Amirudin's statement comes after Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said on Monday that if the number of cases continues to climb, the government is considering implementing a total movement control order (MCO) lockdown in Selangor.

New Covid-19 infections skyrocketed today to a record high of 6,075 new cases reported over the last 24-hour period, with more than one-third in Selangor.

A tweet by Health director-general Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed 2,251 new cases in Selangor alone, followed by 699 in Johor and 660 in Kuala Lumpur as the top three states.