Covid-19: Movement Control Order Further Extended to Phase 4

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, announced yesterday evening that the Movement Control Order (‘MCO’) implemented throughout Malaysia will be further extended until 12 May 2020.
 
This will be the third extension of the MCO.
 
According to the Prime Minister, “the Government is considering reopening several sectors and sub-sectors subject to strict conditions.” This statement is less categorical than the statement made during the announcement of the second extension of the MCO where he expressly stated that several selected sectors of the economy, as determined by a special cabinet committee jointly chaired by the Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry and the Senior Minister of Defence, would be reopened in stages.
 
Tan Sri Muhyiddin also announced that he has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department to prepare an economic recovery plan, comprising short, medium and long-term goals, to enable economic activities to be restarted as soon as possible after the MCO ends.
 
The Prime Minister added that if there is a significant reduction in the number of Covid-19 cases recorded, the Government may ease the movement restrictions gradually in several sectors, including social sectors, to enable the people to live a more comfortable life.
 
The Prime Minister also said in his speech that he did not rule out the possibility that the MCO would be further extended after the third extension.