“A directive has been issued to personnel on the ground to use their utmost discretion to allow those who are stranded to return to their homes.”

Ismail Sabri said sports and recreational activities were also not allowed during the MCO, but some flexibility was given for leisure activities including jogging and cycling, limited to only two people in a group.

There were also four Covid-19-related deaths

However, he said patients with symptoms would be treated in hospitals and the usual monitoring would be carried out.

According to the Home Ministry statement, the result was confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) this morning.

In a nationally televised address this morning, Muhyiddin assured that there will be no curfew imposed under the emergency. He said the state of emergency is declared in order to empower the King to promulgate ordinances that may facilitate government affairs and overcome any regulations that make it difficult to deliver fast, efficient and effective public health services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is the ninth emergency that has ever declared in the country’s history.

CGS-CIMB said in a note today that based on its preliminary assessment, the MCO 2.0 could negatively impact brewers due to weaker on-trade sales, while consumer sales will be impacted by lower footfall, reduced dining-out activities and shorter operating hours.

“The economic sector will still be affected by the re-implementation of MCO, but the overall impact will be reduced as other states can still conduct their business activities as usual in compliance with the stipulated standard operating procedures.”

Face-to-face schooling sessions for educational institutions under the Ministry of Education (MoE) in areas placed under the Movement Control Order (MCO) will only involve students sitting for major local examinations in 2020 and 2021, as well as equivalent international examinations.