KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 – Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has called for an immediate total lockdown to address the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s an urgency now and we need desperate measures,” he said today.

The Umno Deputy President also said it was clear that the first and second movement control orders (PKP) were not effective. Over the past week, more than 50 people died every day as a result of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 7,857 new infections yesterday, a new record within a week.

Mohamad said he is worried that the country’s health system would be paralyzed because the vaccination process is not fast enough and the best way to break the chain of infection is through the enforcement of a comprehensive restraining order.

He said the first PKP proved it. The state of Victoria in Australia implemented a 7-day lockdown after 26 cases of new infection were recorded.

“We have more cases and we are struggling with them. We need a stringent control order for at least three weeks like the first MCO. If we need to borrow money to help businesses and the people, then we need to do it.”

He said the assistance included a moratorium on loans, wage subsidies and cash assistance, especially to the poor.

Mohamad also called for the vaccination review and approval process to be expedited, especially those that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The government should allow the private sector to get the supply of vaccines so that those who can afford it and are willing to pay the cost can go there. This will speed up the vaccination.”

He said when the infection rate declined, the government could consider reopening the economy in stages with strict monitoring.

Mohamad also said Putrajaya must enforce the Covid-19 rules fairly without any double-standard practices.