Introduction

Covid-19 was first detected in Malaysia on 25 January 2020 among three Chinese citizens who entered Malaysia through Singapore on 23 January 2020 (Pung et al. 2020). On 30 January 2020, there was a total of eight confirmed cases of Covid-19, all involving Chinese citizens (Bernama 2020a). The first local infection of Covid-19 was identified on 4 February 2020, and the number of infected individuals remained below 25 until 1 March, when the number of cases increased to 29 (Ministry of Health Malaysia 2020). The total number of Covid-19 cases then increased steadily before a sharp rise starting on 14 March (Fig. 1). The first two deaths due to Covid-19 were reported on 17 March (See et al. 2020) (Fig. 2), after which cases of death increased steadily, though the number remained below 100 until 29 April (Fig. 2). As of 30 April, the mortality rate due to Covid-19 was 1.70%, which was lower than the global average of 7.1% (World Health Organization 2020).

Fig. 1
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The cumulative Covid-19 cases, active Covid-19 cases, and daily Covid-19 cases in Malaysia (Department of Statistics Malaysia 2020)

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Fig. 2
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Cumulative cases of death caused by Covid-19 in Malaysia (Department of Statistics Malaysia 2020)

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The soaring number of Covid-19 infected individuals in Malaysia after 14 March was believed to be linked to a religious event in Kuala Lumpur from 27 February to 1 March attended by an estimated 16,000 people, approximately 1,500 of whom came from other Southeast Asian countries (Bernama 2020a). About 65% of the 673 cumulative Covid-19 cases reported on 17 March were traced to the religious event (Ministry of Health Malaysia 2020). A surge in the number of infected people also resulted in significant rise of active Covid-19 cases which weighted on the nation’s healthcare capacity (Salim et al. 2020). The daily new Covid-19 cases have been consistently above 100 between 15 March and 14 April, with new cases peaking on 26 March at 235 (Fig. 1). Up to 30 April, the daily new cases crossed the 200 mark only four times (Fig. 1). Nonetheless, the active cases have been consistently lower than the total cases as infected individuals recovered from Covid-19 (Fig. 1).

Measures taken by the Malaysian government to contain Covid-19

The Malaysian government has been vigilant on Covid-19 since January 2020, starting with issuance of advice against travelling to China on 25 January after three Chinese citizens were tested positive for Covid-19 (Immigration Department of Malaysia 2020). After that, a series of measures has been rolled out as summarized in Table 1. The measures started with entry restriction of selective foreign nationals into Malaysia, as well as self-quarantine of Malaysian and non-Malaysian citizens returning from Covid-19 hotspots, and culminated with the passing and execution of the Movement Control Order (MCO) (Immigration Department of Malaysia 2020; Ministry of Health 2020; Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020a).

Table 1 Covid-19 containment measures in Malaysia (Bernama 2020a, 2020b; Ministry of Health Malaysia 2020; Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020a, 2020b)
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Effectiveness of the movement control order

The 2020 MCO, often referred to as partial lockdown, signifies a major step taken by the Malaysian Government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. Akin to a cordon sanitaire, it prohibits mass movements and gatherings at all places nationwide including religious services, and demands closure of all business premises except manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and food outlets (Kumar et al. 2020; Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020b). The order escalates travel restrictions, with sanctions required for all Malaysians travelling overseas as well as continued medical screening and 14-day quarantine of returning Malaysians. In addition, all foreign visitors are prohibited from entering Malaysia (Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020c). Learning institutions of all types at all levels were closed in addition to all government and private premises, except providers of essential services comprising energy and electricity, telecommunication, water, postal, oil and gas, fuel, finance and banking, health, fire-fighting, defence, transportation and logistics, defence, and food. Violators of the MCO are subject to a fine amounting to RM1000 and a maximum of 6 months imprisonment (Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020c).

The MCO triggered considerable movements prior to its implementation, with Malaysian citizens travelling back home. Such movements, together with other movements at the commencement of the MCO prior to a stricter enforcement, characterized by localized gathering at markets and vacation spots, increased the risk of Covid-19 transmission, which was linked to the upsurge of daily Covid-19 cases over the following 14 days, peaking on 26 March (Salim et al. 2020). Subsequently, the MCO saw progressively more stringent enforcement, with road blocks established across the country and the military forces mobilized to enhance MCO enforcement (Bernama 2020c). From 1 April onwards, operating hours of all businesses were limited to 8 am to 8 pm, and all citizens were confined to a 10-km travel radius while traveling for the purchase of essentials was limited to only one person at one time from each household (Bernama 2020c). Residents in locations identified as hotspots of Covid-19 underwent stricter MCO, with prohibition of permanent and temporary residents in those areas from leaving their homes and prohibition of non-residents from entering. Food was provided by the government to the affected individuals, and medical bases were set up in those areas (Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia 2020d).

The official media have been instrumental in providing updates of the MCO and urging all individuals nationwide to stay home, minimize unnecessary travel, practice personal hygiene, and keep social distances throughout the effective period of the MCO. Stringent enforcement has resulted in improved compliance to the MCO during its second and third phases (Zolkepli and Sivanandam, 2020). The notable decrease of daily new Covid-19 cases after 14 April (Fig. 1) can very likely be attributed to improved compliance to the MCO through more stringent enforcement, in addition to continuous medical screening and tracking of suspected contacts with the Covid-19 infected individuals. The decrease is also captured by an easing gradient of the cumulative Covid-19 cases in Malaysia (Fig. 1). Reduction in active Covid-19 cases is evident since 5 April, with more infected individuals recovering than new Covid-19 cases (Fig. 1). With daily Covid-19 diagnosis showing a downtrend, more businesses are allowed to resume operation, including manufacturers of packaging and printing materials, hardware stores, laundries, barbers, and optometrists, with conditions applied (Koya 2020).

Conclusion

Malaysia has implemented multiple measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic since January 2020, culminating in the execution of the MCO. Though doubts on effectiveness of the MCO were raised at the early stage of its implementation as mass movements persisted, strict enforcement and improved awareness of the impacts of Covid-19 have brought significant improvement in compliance, which has been deemed the main reason behind the decrease in new Covid-19 cases since mid-April. Based on the downtrends of new and active Covid-19 cases, it can be concluded that the MCO has been effective, provided that compliance to the MCO is maintained. The Malaysian experience points to compliance and cooperation of the public as essential elements for the success of interventions by the government to contain Covid-19. Nonetheless, the socioeconomic implications of such interventions require attention and proper handling.