He said, with the COVID-19 pandemic situation showing alarming figures every day, the best solution is to implement the full Movement Control Order (PKP) which is manageable to the government

“The government often reminds us that if the full PKP or total lockdown is implemented, the country will incur a loss of RM2.4 billion daily as was the case during the PKP 1.0 last year.

“If the government can forget the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for a while to preserve income and employment temporarily for the people in addition to lockdown, isn’t that the best way?

“I can see that the government is too afraid of the deficit, too afraid of debt, that’s why they don’t want a  lockdown,” he said in a video shared on Facebook.

Shahril added that there is no country in the world, whether developed or developing, that prioritizes deficit and debt targets, instead they prioritize the welfare of the people and business continuity in the economic sector.

“As the whole world faces the worst health and economic crisis in the modern history, our obsession with GDP and debt deficit should be put aside for now.

“I am confident the people understand the need to balance between the importance of saving the economy and saving lives… the government can use other options to curb the spread of this epidemic. Sustain the economy but safe the people’s life,” he said.