DISCLAIMER: The information contained herein is intended to be generic in nature and the contents are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation develops. Vision KL shall not be held liable for any omission, error or inaccuracy.
Please click on the links and contact the numbers at the bottom of the page in order to obtain the latest updates from the authorities.
THE MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER IN MALAYSIA IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 JUNE 2020. THE TERMS OF THIS ORDER HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONDITIONAL REOPENING OF SELECTED ECONOMIC SECTORS FROM 4 MAY 2020.
Please stay at home unless necessary to mitigate the proliferation of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Daily updates on the COVID-19 situation in Malaysia are made by the Ministry of Health (MOH) circa 4.30pm-5pm local time, and can be viewed live on the ministry’s Facebook page as well as on local news channels on YouTube.
Information and regular updates on the movement control order are available on the National Security Council’s Facebook page.
We also have some suggestions in the text below on what you can do during this MCO – click on their individual links!
As you are likely well aware of by now, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spread across the world in the past several weeks, causing widespread disruption and affecting everything from social gatherings to economies. In several countries, local authorities have initiated some form of lockdown to help curb the spread of the virus. Here in Malaysia, the government has put in place the Movement Control Order (MCO), otherwise known as the Restricted Movement Order (RMO).
MCO In A Nutshell
This order was effected on 18 March 2020 and is currently set to last until 31 March 2020 [UPDATE: the MCO was initially lengthened to 14 April 2020, subsequently to 28 April 2020, then to 12 May 2020, and has now been farther extended to 9 June 2020. Effective from 4 May 2020, the government has allowed a majority of the country’s economic sectors to reopen with conditions under the Conditional MCO, or CMCO], and covers those who are in the country. Employees of non-essential businesses and organisations are told not to commute to and fro to their workplaces and instead to work remotely from home wherever possible [UPDATE: the CMCO has seen the reopening of more businesses including some under the non-essential umbrella, but excluding those in high-risk categories and situations].
Effectively, barring essential services such as those in the finance and health sectors, as well supermarkets and restaurants, businesses are shuttered during the order period. For the large part, retail outlets, entertainment spots, recreation sites and tourist attractions are closed, while events such as concerts, exhibitions, shows, conferences and other similar public performances and programmes have been deferred.
Those who are not in the essential services industry are advised to adhere to the MCO rules, which require them to stay at home unless in an emergency, with those flouting the rules facing possible fines of RM1,000 and court time.
Grocery And Food
[UPDATE: The information below may no longer apply under the slightly more relaxed rules of the CMCO, so please check the latest updates pertaining to the CMCO and your state]
They are however allowed to go outside to acquire essentials such as medication, groceries, and food (strictly for take away orders from restaurants – no dining in is allowed), but this is on a need-to-do basis, involving only a single representative from the household. The operation hours of these businesses are subject to change, but they may be shortened from typical hours as mandated by authorities. Several restaurants have ramped up their food delivery capacity, which is executed through their native delivery service or through third party delivery services, negating the need for trips to most F&B establishments.
Online shopping has been encouraged as well in place of stepping into brick-and-mortar shops to procure household goods. Some online retail platforms have thrown in offers such as sales and discounts to entice virtual shopping during this MCO period. Shipping times may be affected by the pandemic and MCO, so do contact individual retailers for details in that regard. Bear in mind to practise social distancing and sanitisation procedures when taking delivery of food or items ordered online.
Social distancing and proper hygiene are required when and if you have to venture outside; it is strongly advised to use a face mask, maintain a distance of at least a metre from the next person, avoid touching your face, use hand sanitiser frequently and wash your hands thoroughly upon returning home. To be on the safe side, take a shower before interacting with family members and settling back into your home routine. Safely dispose of the mask if you used one, and wash the clothes you wore outside without delay.
Stay At Home
[UPDATE: The information below may no longer apply under the slightly more relaxed rules of the CMCO, so please check the latest updates pertaining to the CMCO and your state]
In simple terms, aside from making necessary visits to the hospital, runs to the grocer’s or journeys to the restaurant to pack food for home, your presence in a public sphere is to be as limited as possible during the MCO. Socialising in any form, be it gatherings, family events or the like, is not allowed. No cross-country travel for holiday, no running in the park, no social visits to friends or family or even a leisurely drive.
The police, with personnel backup from the military, are enforcing these rules in a calm and orderly manner, advising non-complying people out on the streets to return straight home. Errant or defiant individuals can be fined RM1,000 and even be arrested for running afoul of the police, so please be cooperative and follow the updated rules. These efforts are to avoid unnecessary human-to-human contact, which hopefully will arrest the transmission of COVID-19. As Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin implored, it is vital that those not in the essential services sectors stay at home until the order is lifted and play their part in curtailing the spread of the virus.
Please stay at home and stay safe during the MCO period. Let those at the medical and policing front lines do their jobs more efficiently and contain the COVID-19 threat. Find an activity to do at home – pick up new skills, try your hand at baking, put on your chef’s hat, go on virtual tours around the world, play riveting games, read some books, catch up on the latest movies or series, immerse yourself in a concert at home, watch live theatre on your couch, indulge in some indoor exercises and much more. You can even send an online donation to those who need financial aid in these difficult times.
Useful Links And Contact Details
Daily updates on the COVID-19 situation in Malaysia are made by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) circa 5pm local time, and can be viewed live on the ministry’s Facebook page as well as on local news channels on YouTube.
If you have any pressing concerns regarding COVID-19 in Malaysia, or want to know what to do if you suspect you or someone around you may have the virus, contact the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) 24-Hour Hotlines below:
+603-8881 0200
+603-8881 0600
+603-8881 0700
Alternatively, you may reach CPRC via WhatsApp at +6010-969 9435 / +6010-860 8949.
You may email them at cprc@moh.gov.my as well.
Information and regular updates on the movement control order are available on the National Security Council’s Facebook page.
You may also call the MCO Hotline to have your queries tended to – National Operation Management Center MCO Hotline: +603-8888 2010.
Below are further useful links and contact details of authorities involved in the management of COVID-19 and the MCO.
Ministry of Health Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
TEL +603-8000 8000
National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
TEL +603-8872 6817
Ministry Of Communications And Multimedia (Kementerian Komunikasi Dan Multimedia)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
TEL +603-8000 8000
Prime Minister’s Department (Jabatan Perdana Menteri)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
TEL +603-8000 8000
Prime Minister’s Office (Pejabat Perdana Menteri)
Website
TEL +603-8888 8000
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Website
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp (click on the link and text ‘hi’ for COVID-19 facts)
Click here to read the statement delivered by the Prime Minister on 16 March 2020 regarding COVID-19 and the MCO.
Click here for further details on the initial MCO (in Bahasa Melayu) as released by the National Security Council and here for FAQs on the initial MCO (in Bahasa Melayu) by the Prime Minister’s Office.