MCO 3.0 expands to whole country, restrictions from May 12 to June 7

PM announces whole of Malaysia under MCO from May 12 to June 7

KUALA LUMPUR (May 10): The whole of Malaysia will be placed under the Movement Control Order (MCO) from May 12 to June 7, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a statement this evening, as the country grapples with rising Covid-19 infections.

Under this movement restriction that will last almost four weeks, all educational institutions will be closed — with exemptions given only to those with students who are sitting for international exams — and all social visitations and sports and recreational activities are banned (except those in open areas like jogging, cycling and exercising with physical distancing observed). Also prohibited are inter-district and interstate travels, with certain exceptions.

The announcement expands on the reimposition of the MCO — seen as the third iteration of MCO 3.0 since the first nationwide MCO that began on March 18 until May last year, and the second one that was implemented in selected states in January to February this year — on most parts of Selangor and key cities like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru last week.

Some of the reasons cited for the expansion of MCO 3.0 include the presence of new coronavirus variants with higher infection rates, increasing constraints on the public health system's capacity, and weak compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) among some members of society.

"Data and science continued to show that social gathering activities which complicate social distancing measures, as well as a concentration of people in crowded spaces, are the main causes of Covid-19 transmission.

"The chain of Covid-19 infection can only be broken by encouraging people to stay at home through tighter movement control," Muhyiddin said.

Muhyiddin, who said today that the country is facing a "more vicious and critical" third wave of Covid-19 infections, previously said in March that there would be no more blanket MCO as it planned to use a more targeted approach to combat the pandemic, to reduce the negative impact of the MCO on the nation's economy, amid the roll-out of the National Immunisation Programme. Even just two days ago on Saturday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was quoted as saying that the government did not intend to implement a nationwide MCO despite rising cases, but would continue with targeted movement restrictions.

Under the new MCO 3.0 Muhyiddin announced today, childcare centers, nurseries and kindergartens are allowed to operate in full compliance with SOPs.

All mass gatherings are prohibited, he said, including face-to-face seminars and meetings. However, akad nikah ceremonies will be allowed following the SOPs set by the state Islamic agencies for Muslims, and by the National Registration Department for non-Muslims, Muhyiddin said.

Dine-ins are also prohibited, while a three-person limit to private vehicles, taxis, and e-hailing vehicles will be enforced, he said.

As for the coming Hari Raya celebration, house-to-house visits as well as to the cemetery are not allowed, while Aidilfitri prayers in mosques and suraus are limited to a maximum of 50 people for mosques and suraus that can accommodate more than 1,000 worshippers; and up to 20 people for mosques and suraus that can accommodate less than 1,000 worshippers.

Muhyiddin said the ban on inter-district and interstate travel, as well as social, sports and education activities, which has started on May 10, will last until June 6 as previously announced by Ismail Sabri on May 8. "The enforcement date for the rest of the restrictions and instructions will start on May 12 and last until June 7."