PETALING JAYA, July 15 (Sin Chew Daily) – Health experts are of the opinion that the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) currently enforced in many areas across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur should not be extended, as it has failed to improve the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Malaysian Public Health Physicians' Association (PPPKAM) president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar told Sin Chew Daily the government should instead separate Selangor and Kuala Lumpur from the rest of the country and set up a special committee to manage Greater Klang Valley's COVID-19 situation.

"People from other states cannot come in, and those living inside cannot travel out. The travel ban should be lifted slowly only after the situation improves.

"This special management region should last at least thee months."

He said the working committee responsible for managing the COVID-19 situation in this region should be completely independent from the health ministry or the national security council (MKN), and has full authority over the COVID-19 situation in the region.

"As for the other states, they will be managed by the health ministry and MKN," he said.

Zainal Ariffin said the government must admit that the current anti-virus strategies and management have failed in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, and a new leadership with new ideas is therefore necessary.

He urged the government to review the existing strategies as the current EMCO has not achieved the desired goals.

He said even if the government has decided to extend the EMCO, some of the rules have to be relaxed, such as allowing more factories to operate as well as opening up economic and social activities, as we learn to adopt a "live with the virus" approach towards restoration of our normal lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya public health specialist Dr Victor CW Hoe also agrees that the EMCO for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur should not be extended.

"If the situation has not improved, we should not repeat doing the same thing!

"We need to analyze the reasons and identify the problems."

He said many economic sectors have been allowed to operate be it under full lockdown or EMCO, and people are still roaming around, thus significantly increasing infection risks.

"We won't be able to contain the virus if we continue with the current forms of lockdown or EMCO."