Datuk Zainal Abidin Abu Hassan was appointed secretary-general for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

Notably, the number of cases has tripled from 490 a week ago.

“The government has also approved an emergency procurement procedure to expedite the purchase of this critical equipment.”

The report quoting epidemiologist Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said there was a likelihood of at least four more waves attributed to mass gatherings held recently.

"The economic problems we face can be solved faster once the health crisis is contained, so that businesses can reopen and people can go back to work and lead normal lives."

The immediate concern is the impact of the MCO on rental payments among tenants, as well as the possibility of the partial lockdown being extended beyond March.

Of the 10 richest men in Malaysia, Hong Leong Group’s Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan — who stands at No 2 on the latest 2020 Forbes Malaysia Richest List that was released earlier this month — lost the most in the past 12 weeks.

By Friday, the 30-year-old paralegal had taken in three strangers from Malaysia in her flat in Sengkang, Singapore, where she lives with her four-year-old son and a helper.

“At present, I am being isolated from my family. I am literally spending my days outside in my lawn.”

However, it said, the application letter (for exemption) should be forwarded to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) for approval before they could be allowed to perform the eight critical jobs listed.