SHAH ALAM – If it is given the choice, the state government of Selangor refuses to have the full scale Movement Control Order (MCO) in the state as its infection rate is still low compared to other states such as Kelantan and Pahang.
On the contrary, it would be sufficient to improve on several aspects on the compliance of standard operating procedures (SOP), said the Permanent Chairperson of the Selangor State Health, Welfare, Women and Family Empowerment Committee, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.
She said the Selangor government is managing the Covid-19 outbreak well and it is unfair to evaluate the infection situation in Selangor merely based on the figures as the state has higher population compared to the other states.
According to her, the full scale MCO will not be effective if the Covid-19 screening and vaccination is not implemented promptly.
“We are in MCO now. The movement for work has been reduced. What else do we want to add?” she questioned during a special news conference on the Covid-19 outbreak in Selangor.
Also present at the news conference was the Chairman of Selangor Task Force Covid-19 (STFC), Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
According to Siti Mariah, the Selangor State Government does not want to implement the full MCO as they are concerned about the people who earn their livelihoods through daily wages.
“If you ask me, I do not want that because people cannot go out to work. Those who are salaried are be fine, they will get their salaries.
“We are not rejecting the need for that but we are trying to reduce the impact of sufferings of the people.
“What would happen to businesses? The retail businesses that depend on sales for their livelihood? These do not include the effect they have on their children and to the economy.
“Although the Selangor State Government can afford to provide food aid but the people still need their income,” she said.
Nevertheless, Siti Mariah said, the Selangor State Government will comply with the final decision made by the Federal Government.
Commenting further on the Covid-19 case in Selangor, she said that the focus of the state is to overcome clusters so that it would not spread to the community.
The strategy can control infections in the community and sporadic infections.
Selangor once again recorded the highest number of Covid-19 positive cases yesterday with 1,743 cases and it further leaped to a whopping 2,251 cases today, the highest record to date. -MalaysiaGazette
If Selangor’s infection rate is low, then the number of those infected should be low instead of the highest among all states, right?