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HEALTH-VIRUS-MALAYSIA
No holiday: PM urges Malaysians to follow virus rules
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Malaysia’s prime minister
Wednesday issued a plea for people to stay at home to halt the spread of the
coronavirus, after a chaotic start to new restrictions.
Authorities have ordered the closure of schools and most businesses for
two weeks, as well as banning Malaysians from travelling overseas and
foreigners from entering the country, after virus cases surged.
While many parts of the capital Kuala Lumpur were quiet as the
restrictions kicked in, there were signs not everyone was taking them
seriously.
Instead of staying at home to avoid the risk of infection as authorities
have recommended, many people reportedly travelled out of the capital to
their hometowns, effectively treating the shutdown as a holiday.
While restaurants are only supposed to be open for takeouts, customers were
seen hanging out at some eateries Wednesday, and there were reports people
were going for walks in parks which have been officially closed.
The aim of the restrictions “is not to return to your hometowns, to go…
shopping in the supermarket, for walks in the park or on holiday”, said Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. “No — the purpose is that you stay at home. Stay
at home and protect your family.”
“In these two weeks, sit quietly at home… Watch television, HBO or
whatever. No problem,” he added.
Malaysia has reported a total of 790 virus cases and two deaths, the
highest figure for any Southeast Asian country, with more than half of the
infections linked to a mass Islamic gathering a few weeks ago.
The coronavirus outbreak, which first emerged in China late last year, has
quickly marched across the globe, infecting nearly 200,000 people and killing
more than 8,000.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1942 hrs