Should Malaysia consider a lockdown?

MP SPEAKS | The last few days have been a nightmare. I can safely say that everyone was glued to the television or online news media to get the updates on Covid-19.

And the latest details don’t look good. The total number of cases in Malaysia stands at 428 and there were 190 cases on Sunday alone.

These cases are increasing every day. While most of the infections are from the Sri Petaling mosque cluster, it’s frightening to note that 30,000 Hindus gathered in Penang for a festival on March 8.

If this is not all, it’s now confirmed that Malaysia has its first sporadic case: an indication that Covid-19 has now spread into the community.

There have been re-infections in China and Japan and according to news reports, people without symptoms are causing substantial amounts of infection in the US.

But if we drive around Kuala Lumpur, we will see people in restaurants, cafes, coffee bars, cinemas, night markets and places of worship.

Businesses and shops remain open. And if not for the school holidays, our schools would be open as well.

We need to observe how Italy had 200 cases...