KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Malaysians working in Thailand and Singapore may not commute there during the two-week restriction of movement order, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud clarified today.

He confirmed this to Malay Mail when contacted for clarification about the order’s implications to Malaysians commuting to work outside of the country.

“YAB PM has announced it last night. Immigration Department will implement the decision.

“Starting tomorrow, all Malaysians working in Singapore and Thailand will be prohibited from commuting to the countries,” he said.

Last night, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin announced a government order effective from midnight that would require Malaysians to stop all public gatherings and shut down any non-essential businesses and stores, with only places selling daily necessities and essential services such as transportation, food supply, health, pharmacies, banking and utilities allowed to continue operations. 

The prime minister said that the government has decided to implement a ‘restriction of movement order’ under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967.

Muhyiddin said this means that all business premises have to be shut down, except for outlets such as supermarkets and grocery stores selling daily essentials.

He said all government and private premises would be closed during the movement control order.

Muhyiddin said that the government is aware of the difficulties and troubles that will be faced by Malaysians due to this decision, but stressed that it has to be taken in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 that could cause fatalities. 

Following the announcement, Malindo Air today said that it will temporarily suspend all its international operations from March 18 to March 31, 2020.

In a statement today, the airline said the decision had been made in anticipation of the reduced capacity as a result of the nationwide movement control order announced by the government yesterday.

However, during this period, Malindo Air said that it will continue to provide critical connectivity by operating domestic flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu; Kuala Lumpur and Kuching; Kuala Lumpur and Penang; and Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.

The order which comes into effect tomorrow, bars Malaysians from leaving the country and places restrictions on the entry of all tourists and foreign visitors into Malaysia.