Muhyiddin: Full Lockdown Will Cost Malaysia Half A Trillion Ringgit

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In a sit-down interview with Bernama TV and RTM broadcasted last night, 23 May, Muhyiddin said although the Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended that the government impose a full lockdown, he simply couldn't do it as the economic impact would be severe.

He said the first Movement Control Order (MCO 1.0) had led to economic collapse, which required hundreds of billions of ringgit to recover the country's economy.

Between 18 March and 3 May last year, Muhyiddin said the country lost about RM2.4 billion a day, before adding that a new lockdown would probably require up to RM500 billion — or half a trillion — to keep the economy afloat.

"We can close (all economic sectors), but when we reopen, the system may collapse because we have to reopen i-Sinar, provide Prihatin aid, moratoriums, and others. Can the government afford this? Can, but not as much."

He said his administration had used 20% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to help the rakyat. The country may not be able to financially recover if an MCO as strict as MCO 1.0 is reinstated.

Muhyiddin also said that it would be meaningless for the government to increase "tens of thousands of beds" at quarantine centres or hospitals when the number of daily COVID-19 cases could go up to 20,000.

"That is why we have to ask the people to help themselves so that they do not fall ill or die from being lax," Muhyiddin pleaded.

"They can blame the government. They can scold the Prime Minister. I accept that. Scold 'stupid Prime Minister', it's okay. I can say it on television."

"I know how difficult it is to manage. But this is our joint responsibility. The approach is not whole-of-government but whole-of-society."

"The entire society must come together, only then we can flatten the COVID-19 curve."

The government was pressured into imposing a full lockdown after daily COVID-19 cases surpass the 6,000-mark multiple times over the past few days.

On the matter related to the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, the Prime Minister said the procurement of the vaccines had been settled as the nation had ordered enough doses for 100% of the population.

"It is not an issue of whether we get the supply or not. The question is when they will arrive," he said.

"I have been given the guarantee by my minister and I hold him to his word. We can get all the supply before the end of this year."

He added that the existing infrastructure allows the government to administer 150,000 doses of vaccine a day, but they cannot achieve the target as many of the supplies have yet to arrive.