The Amanah strategy director said that the government should have instead admitted its own failure because by continuing to take the same action, the people would suffer further.

“The government’s failure to manage MCO 2.0 has forced us to face MCO 3.0,” he told FMT.

“Listen to the health experts, don’t take the easy route by saying that public health facilities are overburdened, and simply declare an MCO.”

Dzulkefly, who is the Kuala Selangor MP, called for Putrajaya to take different strategic actions instead of declaring another MCO arbitrarily.

“The MCO is effective and can reduce the number of infections, but the effect is very severe for the economy and the lives of the people, especially the self-employed.”

The latest MCO came into effect from yesterday until June 7 with schools closed and social activities, including Hari Raya visits, banned following an increase in Covid-19 infections that now exceed 4,000 cases daily.

Dzulkefly urged the government and the health ministry to strengthen its strategies based on the “find, test, trace, isolate, and support” mantra by the World Health Organization.

He said the government’s Hotspot Identification for Dynamic Engagement system should also be expanded with the cooperation of the ministry of science, technology and innovation as well as the health ministry.