PUTRAJAYA – The government formulates strategies to control the spread of Covid-19 based on data, as well as taking on a more targeted approach by implementing stricter movement controls at cluster locations, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said much has been learned after a year battling the Covid-19 outbreak, including that 10% of Covid-19 clusters contributed to more than 85% of the cases in the country.
Economic activities, he said, will continue to remain open, but subject to strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Enforcement of the SOPs will be enhanced. Stern action will be taken against those who defy the SOP to ensure economic activities and livelihood of the majority of people and businesses can remain open,” he said in “Setahun Malaysia Prihatin”address today.
The event, held in conjunction with his first year in office, took place in a hybrid manner that combined the physical and virtual presence of cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
The prime minister said although some economic activities have been opened, movement control is still needed, including for international and interstate travel, as well as social and business activities where social distancing cannot be practised.
“The opening of such activities can only be done after the implementation of the immunisation programme reaches a certain level in terms of people’s coverage,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the government is also formulating several additional measures, such as providing targeted assistance to vulnerable groups, especially the poor and those who had lost their income.
The government is also taking steps to increase support for businesses, especially businesses that are still unable to operate and those that are in the process of reopening, he added.
He said the public delivery system is also being given focus, especially to ensure the aid reaches the needy, implementation of development projects are expedited, and bureaucracy reduced so that economic activities can resume and encourages new investments, locally and from abroad. – Bernama, March 1, 2021
