Malaysia may tighten Covid-19 restrictions

If cases rise in the country, authorities will introduce a Movement Control Order, which involves the closure of casinos.

Malaysia.- The prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has anticipated he may impose new community movement restrictions due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, with 615 new infections in the last 14 days.

Malaysia was previously subject to a Movement Control Order when the pandemic first hit the country from March 18. The measure imposed a temporary closure of the nation’s only casino complex, Resorts World Genting.

The casino resort reopened on June 19 under the Recovery Movement Control Order, which somewhat eased restrictions.

According to the Malaysian National News Agency, Mr Yassin said it was possible that some parts of the country might be subject to an Enhanced Movement Control Order.

He said: “Although our country has coped well with the Covid-19 epidemic, I am quite worried about the sharp increase in the number of cases of late. Over the past 14 days, there have been 615 new cases.”

The website of Malaysia’s Ministry of Health said that as of 5pm on Tuesday, the country had recorded a daily rise of 23 cases – including 10 imported cases – taking the national Covid-19 infection tally to 9,969, with 128 deaths.

Borders remain closed to foreign visitors, but authorities are looking at the possibility of fully reopening the Malaysia-Singapore border in January due to the importance of trade between the two nations.

For the gaming industry it could be vital. Singapore’s two casino resorts, Marina Bay Sands, operated by a division of United States-based Las Vegas Sands Corp, and Resorts World Sentosa, run by Genting Singapore, benefited from Malaysian customers before the pandemic.