KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Muhyiddin Yassin urged Malaysians today to prepare for the possibility of not being allowed to return to their hometowns during Hari Raya Aidilfitri next month.
The prime minister said during the upcoming Ramadan later this month, people will be prohibited from patronising Ramadan bazaars or to go to the mosque for terawih prayers, amid the Covid-19 epidemic.
“So, terawih at home with your family. Maybe we may not be able to return to our hometowns like usual,” Muhyiddin said in a televised address today.
He added that the schooling session could be further postponed until circumstances improve, saying he has asked the Education Ministry to initiate home-based learning during the Movement Control Order (MCO), which has been extended to April 28, or for possibly a longer period.
Muhyiddin also raised the possibility of undocumented migrant workers entering the country.
“If we don’t tighten border controls, they may escape and bring the virus into our country.”
The prime minister ordered the police, the armed forces, maritime, immigration, Rela, and other related agencies to tighten border controls.
“In short, our life in the coming months or year will not return to normal. We must live in the new normal. What we used to do, we cannot do anymore,” Muhyiddin said, citing shaking hands, frequent hand washing, and wearing face masks as examples.
