KUCHING: Use of legal or political powers on states to enforce the conditional movement control order (CMCO) is deemed unnecessary.
There are talks that the federal government may use its legal or constitutional powers on states that refuse to comply with CMCO, wholly or partly.
Chairman of Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) Datuk Peter Minos said it is not necessary for the federal government to resort to the use of legal or political powers to force states to comply with the CMCO.
“Why do this when we are fighting against Covid-19 our deadly common enemy? Why tinkering or tempering with MCO which was already enforced and accepted by Malaysians?”he asked.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said all states were subject to the conditional movement control order (CMCO) and must adhere to it, while another Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said failure to do so would expose the differing states to possible lawsuits from affected industries.
Azmin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, in a statement on Monday (May 4), said state governments did not have lawful authority to refuse to comply with the CMCO, as instructed by the Federal government.
Six states, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Penang, Sarawak and Sabah, have announced different plans on the relaxation of the movement control order (MCO).
Minos said he cannot quite understand what is going on in Kuala Lumpur.
He noted that it was Kuala Lumpur who fixed MCO which will end on May 12, unless extended, with one specific purpose that is to enforce social distancing to fight and end Covid-19 as soon as possible, there being no vaccine as yet against the silent and dreaded virus.
Malaysians, he said have generally accepted MCO and its inherent inconveniences and pains.
“Now Kuala Lumpur has introduced the CMCO which took effect on May 4, eight days before the MCO lapses on May 12. Why the hurry and why not wait for May 12? “he asked.
Malaysians, he added have gone along with MCO for over a month since March 18 and it shouldn’t be so difficult to wait until May 12.
“If CMCO ends with no Covid-19 death and infection, well and fine, but if it results in the breakdown of social distancing and thus in more Covid-19 deaths and infections then what?” he asked.
He said no doubt Kuala Lumpur is very worried about the state of the economy due to Covid-19 crisis, adding that the national economy was in tatters while individuals were suffering financially.
“That is why we want to see the success of MCO and eliminate Covid-19 once and for all,” he said.
