Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has appealed to Malaysians to obey the government's Movement Control Order from today.

He stressed that the main purpose of the order was to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak and that it would not succeed if the people's movement, especially the mass journey to go back to kampungs, continued.

"I mention this because yesterday many people went back to their kampungs. I could see see the highways were congested with vehicles going to the north, south and east.

“The bus terminals were also crowded with people wanting to return to their kampungs.

"I want to appeal to all of you, please stay put where you are. Those in Kuala Lumpur, please stay in Kuala Lumpur, those in Johor Bahru, stay in Johor Bahru and those in Penang, please stay in Penang.

"If you are planning to go back to your kampungs, please cancel that intention for now. I seek your your cooperation for this two weeks only,” he said in a special televised address tonight.


Muhyiddin added that the public should understand that the directives issued will help resolve the chain of infections and reduce the number of patients.

“The two-week control period is because COVID 19 has a two-week period of incubation.

"The government hopes that after two weeks, those with symptoms have been successfully separated for treatment, making Malaysia free of COVID-19," he said.

Muhyiddin also said that there could be an extension of controls if the outbreak is still out of control within two weeks.

"I have a big responsibility to deal with this crisis that is plaguing our country but I cannot do this task alone, I need the support of all of you," he added.