KUCHING: The public must understand that the movement control order issued by the government is not a time for “Cuti-Cuti Malaysia”, says Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
The Deputy Chief Minister said many Malaysians still did not understand the severity of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“It is infectious and deadly. It moves from human to human, the closer humans stand to each other, the faster it spreads and the faster it kills,” he warned.
Which was why the movement control order was essential, he said.
“Standard operating procedure to control people’s movement will not work. As such a military style control is needed.
“The police, army and uniformed personnel should be recruited to stop any mass movement with immediate effect during the two-week order,” he opined.
He said once people go back to their respective villages, settlements and towns throughout Malaysia, those affected by Covid-19 would infect hundreds of others.
“The rate of spread is one to 10 people. We should have anticipated this mass movement before announcing the movement control order and stop people from moving away from where they are,” Masing said.
He said those wishing to go back should have stayed put for now.
“For some, now that they have gone, we will have a bigger problem in containing the spread,” he said.
“Normal management measures will not work (to contain the spread of Covid-19). We have to be tough and excuses will not be accepted,” he added.
