“It’s better for us to prioritise on minimising Covid-19 instead of continuing to impose half-baked MCOs, which would make it more difficult to revive the economy in the long run,” said its chief, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, in a statement.

According to Asyraf, people were more willing to tolerate a total lockdown of up to three weeks, instead of going through multiple movement control orders (MCO).

He said factories, one of the main causes for the spread of the virus, were still allowed to operate while petty traders, hawkers and other daily-wage earners were forced to repeatedly open and close their businesses.

“There is no guarantee that Covid-19 can be curbed if factories remain operational despite a stricter MCO,” he said, adding that factory workers still lived among the community.

Asyraf also said the current public perception was that the government cared more about the country’s big tycoons and capitalists.

He said the government had yet to announce any form of financial assistance or another loan moratorium at a time when the people were struggling due to “half-baked” MCOs.

The government previously announced that it would be tightening restrictions for economic and social sectors, rather than imposing a total lockdown.

Further details on the restrictions are expected to be announced by senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a press conference later today.