KUCHING: Extending the recovery movement control order (RMCO) until at least year end is the only way Malaysia can keep its borders closed and restrict international travel to keep out Covid-19, says Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.
Saying that the pandemic was far from over, the Demak Jaya assemblyman opined that ending the RMCO would mean opening up borders.
He explained that the threat from the borders through the existence of ‘jalan tikus’ (rat trails) easily accessible to foreigners was also a biggest risk for the country.
“We need to always be careful until the vaccine is actually found, at least it will take a period of one year through the trial stage at the beginning.”
The RMCO, said Dr Hazland, was likely to go on for some time until there was an effective vaccine or treatment.
“Many countries in this region and elsewhere are still facing problems containing the outbreak, so we need to be careful with which country we open up our borders to.
“It is clear that with the increasing number of Covid-19 cases worldwide, this needs to be taken seriously and precautions need to be taken.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over, although Malaysia and Sarawak in particular, have not shown a high rate of transmission, we should be vigilant, especially Malaysians returning from abroad, for work and study.
“So to overcome this, the use of face masks, the practice of physical distancing according to the SOP guidelines and good hygiene practice, including constant hand washing, must continue to be adhered to,” he added.
