Coronavirus: Malaysia places two buildings in Kuala Lumpur under enhanced curbs

The movement control order takes effect from April 7 until all residents are screened. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has put two buildings in Kuala Lumpur under an enhanced movement control order (Emco), as the number of new coronavirus infections continued to rise despite the country being on partial shutdown for nearly three weeks.

The Emco, implemented after 15 cases of coronavirus were detected at the Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion in the Jalan Masjid India area, affects some 6,000 people, who are mostly foreigners.

Malaysia has the highest number of coronavirus infections in South-east Asia. It reported 170 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (April 7), raising the cumulative tally to 3,963 cases. The latest data includes one new death, raising total fatalities to 63.

The Emco takes effect from Tuesday (April 7) until all residents are screened, said Malaysian Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a statement.

"Given the number of cases, the government as advised by the Minister of Health, has decided to execute the fourth directive of the enhanced movement control order (Emco)," said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

A check by The Star at the location at about 1.30pm on Tuesday showed security personnel installing barricades around the area, including barbed wire fences.

The Emco is a stricter version of the movement control order (MCO), or partial lockdown, that was imposed across Malaysia from March 18 in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Under the MCO, residents are allowed to leave their homes to buy supplies from supermarkets and wet markets, and to buy food from restaurants. They can also order food to be delivered to their homes.

But during the duration of the Emco, residents and visitors in the area will not be allowed to leave their houses and all businesses will be shuttered, except for shops selling essential items.

Previous Emcos were placed on two areas in Simpang Renggam , Johor, seven villages in Hulu Langat district in Selangor and a condominium in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia's Federal Territories minister Annuar Musa said his ministry will work with the Pakistan, Bangladesh and India embassies since majority of the residents in the two buildings are from the three countries.

"We will cooperate with them and replay information on the enhanced MCO to the residents. We will also include the representatives from the embassies in the ministry's security meetings," The Star quoted him as saying, adding that the relevant information will be broadcast via loud hailers to the residents in languages used by the three nationalities.

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