KUALA LUMPUR (April 21): The Ministry of Health (MoH) has yet to determine whether Malaysia should extend the Movement Control Order (MCO), which is scheduled to end next Tuesday (April 28).

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham told the press conference today that the MoH has not come to any conclusion on the recommendations to be made to the National Security Council (NSC) on the MCO period. 

The MCO is now in its third phase after it was extended twice on March 31 and April 14. 

"We are not sure yet whether the MCO will end or be extended. We are now still monitoring the data that we get every day and we have [not] made the decision whether it will be extended or not," Noor Hisham said. 

Noor Hisham stressed that even if the MCO is eventually lifted, it may not be fully removed, as certain public health precautions must continue to be practiced.

Noor Hisham explained that the MoH has come up with a framework, consisting of six aspects or criteria, for the authorities to work out before making the decision on the termination of the order. 

The six aspects are border control, movement control, the level of healthcare system, action plans to protect high-risk groups, new norms on public health for the public to adhere to, and detection of areas for spread containment. 

"We are still in discussions. We have the framework but we are still discussing in terms of implementation," Noor Hisham said. 

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