KUALA LUMPUR — From Monday (May 4), almost all economic sectors and businesses in Malaysia would be allowed to reopen, but subject to strict conditions under what Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has called a conditional movement control order.

In his Labour Day address on Friday, Mr Muhyiddin said that the Malaysian government can no longer afford to carry on with the extended movement control order imposed on businesses, which has dealt a significant blow to the nation’s economy.

He said the government has been suffering RM2.4 billion (S$789 million) in losses daily during the movement control order to curb the spread of Covid-19. He added that the losses to date are estimated at RM63 billion, with another RM35 billion to come, should the order be extended.

“I realise you are all worried. I am worried too, and in some nations too, when the lockdown ended, the number of Covid-19 positive cases increased exponentially... We must find ways to balance between healing the nation’s economy and addressing Covid-19," he said.

He added: “Based on advice from (Malaysia's) Ministry of Health, and based on collected data, and the best practice guide stipulated by the World Health Organisation, the government has decided to reopen economic sectors cautiously, by implementing stringent health standard operating procedures, beginning May 4."