KUALA LUMPUR: Consumer groups are calling on the public to look at the movement control order amid the Covid-19 outbreak in a positive light by restricting their outdoor activities and avoiding panic buying.
Fomca deputy president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said the objective of restricting outdoor activities was to prevent direct contact with other people.
“In the current situation, the public should stay at home. If they need to go to the shops, it should only be to buy essential items, ” he said.
People should not take advantage of the order by going out for recreation as it was meant to stop the spread of the virus, he said.
He also advised traders not to take advantage of the situation by increasing the price of goods.
“The supply chain should be unchanged because so far, the movement of goods is not restricted. This means that the price of goods should not increase.
“Traders should play their part to ensure adequate supply as in the current situation, users cannot travel far, ” he said.
On Monday, Muhyiddin declared that the country was implementing a nationwide movement control order until March 31 to curb the Covid-19 viral outbreak.
Pertubuhan Mesra Pengguna Malaysia deputy president Azlin Othman said the order was an opportunity for cleaning and disinfection exercises to be carried out in government offices, schools, nurseries, tertiary institutions, houses of worship and business premises as they would not be operating during the 14 days.
“As preventive measures, big supermarkets should clean their trolleys every day as well as provide hand sanitisers, ” she said, calling on traders not to sell hand sanitisers and face masks at exorbitant prices.
Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan recommended that everyone make the necessary preparations for the two-week period.
“We must have a plan to improve ourselves, such as by exercising at home. There should be new schedules for the family because the daily routine might change but that does not mean that we should be wasting our time, ” he said. — Bernama
