KUALA LUMPUR (June 6): Malaysia is not ready for an exit strategy from Covid-19, with the government continuing to use Act 342, or the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, to monitor the situation of Covid-19.
In a media briefing, Ministry of Health (MoH) director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the act will be used as a monitoring and enforcement tool as more sectors open up.
“We still have to use Act 342 as a monitoring and enforcement tool when we open more sectors. If there is an outbreak or rise in cases in one location or target group, we might implement an EMCO or SEMCO (semi-enhanced movement control order). We will isolate the area and test all of those who live there regardless of they are Malaysians or not. If they test positive, we will isolate them, and their close contacts will be quarantined,” he said while reiterating that Malaysia is now entering the recovery phase.
Noor Hisham added that enforcement of the act had been delegated to the police, army and the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela).
He said it is crucial to monitor the development of the pandemic during this phase, and the act will help in this regard.
“Border controls will continue to remain tight. We will block those coming in from abroad, and not encourage Malaysians to leave the country. We have to tighten our borders further,” he said.
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