“The advice for social distancing has obviously fallen on deaf ears, as I see people going about their daily lives as if there is no threat at all.

“I do consider the implication of such measures, but we do not want to be too late, like other countries, which are fighting a losing battle now. Every day matters,” the statement said.

MoH revealed that most of the new cases are related to the cluster of tabligh assembly in Sri Petaling mosque.

MoH said 37 new cases were detected among Patient-Under-Investigation (PUI). Meanwhile, the remaining four cases contracted the disease through close contact.

The report said the challenges include the local retail sector’s lacklustre performance and the requirement for foreign entrants to sell 30% of the business to a local within three years of its entry into the market.

Labuan Health director Dr Ismuni Bohari said this was necessary after one of the participants at the programme were found to be one of the two positive COVID-19 cases detected on the island last Friday (March 13).

MIEA president Lim Boon Ping said this form of “natural justice” action has been long overdue and the institute looks forward to BOVAEP taking stringent measures as there were thousands of other suspected illegal real estate agents and businesses across the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been consistently monitoring the situation and has been reaching out to Malaysians abroad, especially in the Top-10 countries badly affected by COVID-19.

“We had to make this difficult decision because the general health in Sarawak has become a priority due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani today said only about 1,500 participants had registered with the mosque committee so far.

The tourism industry will be the worst hit sector with estimated losses of RM3.3 billion for the first two months of this year.