Sin Chew Daily

From today, the MCO will become conditional MCO (PKPB) where commercial and social activities are conditionally restored in compliance with the stipulated SOPs.

However, events that involve large numbers of people, as well as gatherings, bazaars and interstate travels will still be banned throughout phase four MCO until further notice is served.

The conditional MCO implies that the government has initiated the emergency "save the market" measure.

Although there are no signs at this juncture that the coronavirus outbreak will deteriorate in near future, there are still hidden worries surrounding the double- and triple-digit daily increases in the number of positive cases, with last Saturday recording the first triple-digit increase in two weeks, at 105. This shows that it is still not yet the best time to open up most economic sectors, as health DG Noor Hisham has asserted.

Many have also voiced their disapproval for the PKPB mainly because the current situation does not make the people feel reassured, and that the government should wait until May 12 to make the decision. Since we have already spent 47 days at home, what's wrong with waiting another nine days? What if the daily numbers of new infections pick up again after PKPB is put into implementation? All our effort during the past 47 days would be in vain!

An organization called "Concerned Malaysian Citizens" started an online petition two days ago to urge the government not to open up most economic sectors on May 4 and should keep the existing MCO rules. Some 450,000 people have signed the petition within two days!

Noor Hisham, meanwhile, has proposed that companies prepared to resume full operation as encouraged by the government should see the PKPB as a preparatory phase instead of going into full capacity right away, as the country is now in a recovery phase. They should instead make all necessary prior arrangements in compliance with the SOPs set by the health ministry.

Anyway, Monday marks the first day of PKPB and it is hoped that the authorities will step up its surveillance to make sure all the SOPs are strictly adhered to.

In the meantime, members of the public should have learned to be more disciplined by now after seven weeks of MCO. Those returning to work must fully abide by the health ministry's SOPs. As for those permitted to work from home, they should continue to stay at home to protect themselves and their families.

The outbreak can be put under control and we can still win this war if Malaysians offer their full cooperation to the authorities during the PKPB designed to restart the national economy.