FIRST PUBLISHED ON 04.10.2020 – As Malaysia’s Covid-19 lockdown is extended to 40 days ending on 28 April, 2020, the severity of the measures are starting to take a toll on people’s lives and raise questions about civil liberties. RLSE takes a look at the legality of the lockdown.
The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas (No 2) Regulations 2020 (the “MCO Regulations”) were gazetted by the Health Minister on 31 March 2020, pursuant to powers conferred on him under Sub-section 11(2) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342] (the “Act”). The MCO Regulations were further amended by the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas (No 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 on 3rd April 2002. In a televised announcement by the Malaysian Prime Minister today, those measures were extended to 28 April 2020.
