KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 – Youth Chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the government got no other options but to impose an absolute total lockdown of between 14 to 21 days to curb the pandemic.

“Implement the one similar to MCO 1.0. All sectors were closed completely, there was no essential services category allowed to operate for 14 days, except for those in food industry.

“The total lockdown also requires the government to provide ample assistance to those in the M40 and B40 income brackets, i.e cash contribution of RM2,000 for each family, involving RM30 billion to RM40 billion.

“It also justify for the government to allow EPF withdrawal under i-Citra amounting to one-off RM10,000 and banks’ moratorium and agencies such as the Public Home Financing Board for three months interest-free,” he said in a FB posting.

He said although the RM40 billion looks enormous, it cannot justify the 8,201 people who died.

“What is RM40 billion as compared with the economic losses incurred by the people when they are still locked at home amid the daily new cases exceeding 10,000. It is true that the vaccination program is hoped to achieve its herd community soon but it will take several more months.

“The people cannot be left alone to wait for that period without any income and jobs,” he said.

To be fair with everybody, an absolute total lockdown is the only answer to this pandemic, he said.