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Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd. (ETCM) today announced that the warranty of all Nissan vehicles distributed and sold by the company will have an extension of 30 days from the last day of the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, if the warranty expiry date falls within the period that the MCO is on.

The existing warranties will remain valid, even if the preventive maintenance service schedule intervals cannot be performed during this MCO period.

Nissan engine

Customers are encouraged to reschedule service appointments within 30 days after MCO is lifted in order to keep their vehicle warranty active. Appointment rescheduling can be done via the DriveOn mobile app, Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn. Bhd. (TCEAS) website, Call Centre or direct booking with TCEAS Service Centres (after the MCO expires).

To cater to the anticipated surge of service appointments after the MCO period, TCEAS will extend its business operation hours from Monday to Friday, 8.30 am up to 8.00 pm. In Kelantan and Terengganu, the operating days will be from Sunday to Thursday.

Nissan

ETCM had also earlier informed its customers that while all its sales and aftersales outlets will remain closed in accordance with the MCO, Roadside Assistance and Towing services will still be available to assist in an emergency. However, if the vehicle is towed to a service centre, it will have the remain there as repair work cannot be undertaken during the MCO period.

For more information, roadside assistance or towing services, members of the public may call 1800-88-3838, or visit www.nissan.com.my.

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This is a serious and challenging time and many must be getting increasingly stressed with lockdowns and fear of getting infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. That’s understandable but hopefully, being able to laugh is not lost yet because it can be therapeutic and provide some relief, if just for a while.

April Fool’s Day, an annual date on the calendar when people and companies have a bit of fun playing pranks, passed rather quietly this year. Perhaps few were in the mood for pranks. So MINI USA decided to compile some of the brand’s most memorable and humorous past April Fools’ moments over the past 18 years the modern MINI has been sold in America.

MINI had fun on April Fools’ Day with unique models, concepts and accessories that were never intended to make it to reality. While most were simply ideas to celebrate a day dedicated to jokes and pranks that dates back to the 1500s, MINI did go as far to create one and launch it at a major international autoshow in 2012.

“MINI has always had the ability to make people smile, whether through our humorous advertising and guerrilla marketing stunts, or simply by the appearance of the familiar, smiling face that people see in the front grille of a MINI.” said Andrew Cutler, Head of Corporate Communications, MINI USA. “We hope that during these difficult times, reminiscing about some of our past April Fools’ Day moments will make people smile. It’s an important part of helping us all get through this together.”

MINI Centrelite
2002: MINI introduces the revolutionary third headlight called CENTRELITE. It was a groundbreaking idea specifically for foggy English weather. The press release also revealed that “this revolutionary new technology emits a super-heated beam that dries out fog up to 30 metres ahead of the car and dramatically improves visibility.”
Remote Control Steering System
2003: Remote control steering system sets new standards in convenience. MINI produced the world’s first commercially-available full-sized remote control car. Based on the proven ‘Tamiy-ah-hah’ model racing technology, the new system allowed owners to remotely operate their cars up to 50 metres.

2004: 8-speed gearbox introduced. MINI’s forward thinking added more fun with 2 speeds in reverse. Remember it was 2004 so 8 speeds was still unique and MINI engineers felt that 2 extra speeds in reverse would give owners ‘more fun going backwards’.


2005: The flexible transportation initiative. MINI cars, already known for cornering as if they were on rails, offered a special edition that will actually corner on rails. Considering the growing problem of gridlock and rush-hour traffic, this special model was adapted to ride on all rail lines throughout North America.


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2006:  Build your own MINI program. Virtual reality for consumers was still many years away but MINI USA was already able to offer customers a program that gave them hands-on experience to build their own car. All of the car’s components could be ordered online and the parts, including the chassis and engine, would delivered in instalments. It was to take about 6 weeks to complete the car and customers would also receive a can of spraypaint each week.


2009: Perpetual motion magnetic propulsion system. Announced on April 1, MINI USA looked set to take a world lead in fuel efficiency with the announcement of a revolutionary magnetic propulsion system that will allow its cars to drive to several hundred, possibly even thousands of kilometres with little charge and no need for fuel. Professor Lirpa Loof, who led the development team, explained that a series of magnets in the wheel hubs would both pull and push the wheels in the desired direction, exploiting the magnets’ natural tendency to attract and repel.


2010: A new level of automobile personalisation. A revolutionary paint system for the Clubman allowed owners to change the exterior colour of their car as often as they changed their mood. With the new, innovative range of MINIMagic paint finishes, all a customer has to do to activate an on-demand colour change was quick wipe over the painted surfaces with the patented MINIMagic paint polish. In minutes, the transformation – from Light Coffee to Cosmic Blue, for example – would be completed.


MINI Yachtsman
2012: Amphibious MINI Yachtsman launched. MINI customers could boldly go where no motorer has gone before and travel on the 70% of the earth’s surface covered by water. The new model, the company said in its release, “comes with a fully incomprehensible warranty that includes 3-year no-cost moorage, annual dry-docking and free barnacle removal, for the original captain.”
MINI Hipster
2016: The Hipster Hatch. Featuring Instagram filtered windows, twin-deck cassette player and a fixed-gear drivetrain, the MINI Hipster Hatch was avant-garde and upcycled. It was ‘effortlessly stylish’ and the perfect companion for a spot of vintage clothes shopping. It was inspired by the kind of innovative thinking only found when you ignore the script and ask what those who refuse to be categorized want from a car,” explained MINI USA.
John Cooker Works
2017: The John Cooker Works Package. This was aimed at the culinary entrepreneur who could turn his MINI Convertible into a mobile street vendor stall. Should the rain come down suddenly, the convertible roof could be closed in just 18 seconds without having to remove the food preparation surface. Be it on the streets of Shanghai, in front of Barcelona’s office blocks or whipping around tourist hotspots in London, the MINI Convertible with John Cooker Works Package would be an eye-catcher as the world’s smallest multifunctional food truck.

Click here for other new and articles about MINI on PISTON.MY.

StayAtHomeTHIS IS SERIOUS

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One thing is for sure – things will not be the same again when this COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end (hopefully that will not take too long). With the restrictions imposed by the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the need for better hygiene and social distancing, our lifestyle will have to change. Likewise for businesses, big and small, which will have to be mindful of protecting both their employees as well as their customers and the public.

While seeking to ensure its daily operations continue to run smoothly, Proton has adhered to the requirements of the MCO in order to help break the COVID-19 chain of infection in Malaysia. At the same time, the company has also obtained approval from the relevant agencies for essential operations to be carried out by essential employees.

Proton

Main priority – safety of employees
The health and safety of Proton’s employees is of utmost importance. With a workforce of close to 10,000 people, monitoring the health status of everybody is a daily task requiring cooperation from all levels. During the MCO, the health status of every employee is monitored twice daily with plans in place to isolate and treat those suspected of being infected with the virus. This includes weekends and takes into account where the staff are based during the MCO as well as their active work status.

Proton

Prior to the MCO, all staff movement outside the company was limited from the beginning of February 2020. Furthermore, those who travelled were required to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine upon their return including being screened for the virus before and after the quarantine period.

“When the news of the COVID-19 virus made headlines, Proton put into effect an action plan to mitigate against infection. We have been diligent in our efforts and even before the MCO was announced, we cancelled all overseas business travel and enforced work from home operations for a few departments with staff who were quarantined for possible infections. Our main priority is the health and safety of our staff and we are hopeful of emerging from this situation unscathed,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

Proton

Essential company operations to continue
Adhering to the strict conditions of the MCO means all Proton facilities have been shut down from March 18. However, certain job functions have still to be performed on-site. For instance, maintenance of Proton’s production facilities needs to be kept going while a few service centres designated to service the fleet of Proton vehicles used by government agencies remain operational.

In accordance with the requirements of the MCO, Proton has obtained approvals to issue letters for specific people who are performing limited company operations.

Proton staff

Operations for other areas within the company continue and individual departments are required to have daily meetings with department heads updating their team members on management decisions and apportioning work with daily deliverables.

“While we are cognisant of the need to adhere to the MCO, Proton has obtained approval from the authorities for a small number of its staff to continue working at specific locations to perform essential services. As for our other staff members, we have asked them to adapt their work practices to the MCO rules. Thanks to video-conferencing and messaging technology, meetings and discussions can be held from anywhere with an Internet connection so we are hopeful of keeping disruptions to our business operations to a minimum level,” said Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy CEO of Proton.


Related story: Proton provides 50 units of X70 to Ministry of Health


The company, while acknowledging the scale of the crisis, is confident the country will be able to navigate itself to a safe outcome. “These are trying times but we are certain that if we pull together, Malaysia will come out of this strong. Proton will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with all Malaysians as we see this through,” added Dr. Li.

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The ‘Red Dot’ Award, which originated in Germany, has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design. Initiated in 1955, it is one of the world’s largest design competitions.

This year, two Mazda models received Red Dot: Product Design 2020 awards – the CX-30 and MX-30. Reflecting Mazda’s excellence in vehicle design, these are the eighth and ninth Red Dot awards won by Mazda’s models incorporating KODO design to date. Prior to this were the Mazda3 (2019), MX-5 RF (2017), MX-5 soft top, CX-3 and Mazda2 (all 2015), Mazda3 (2014) and Mazda6 (2013).

Mazdea CX-30

Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 is the second production model created with the latest evolution of the KODO design philosophy – artful design, rooted in traditional Japanese aesthetics. The honing of every element according to the ‘less is more’ principle has resulted in clean, beautiful surfaces on the CX-30 and brought an entirely original look to the compact crossover SUV segment.

“The Japanese master craftsmen have always prized simplicity of form, of being beautifully pure,” said Jo Stenuit, Mazda’s European Design Director. “This inspired our designers to trim back elements and create something dynamic yet elegant, restrained yet vital. This is how we perceive Japanese aesthetics – a sensibility that has created emotionally moving cars.”

Mazda CX-30

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Mazda MX-30

Mazda MX-30
Though retaining the beautiful, handcrafted forms of KODO design, the styling of the Mazda MX-30 represents an exploration of a more modern aesthetic which focuses on the futuristic values and lifestyles that are beginning to emerge.

“This new approach has resulted in an original design that embodies the expansion of KODO’s expressive range,” explained MX-30 Chief Designer, Youichi Matsuda. “The exterior is uncompromisingly simple to emphasise its beauty as a solid mass, and the cabin design – with its framed top and freestyle doors – embodies an image of lightness while proactively incorporating sustainability as an element for the interior materials. As we begin an era of great change, we want the Mazda MX-30 to show people that our cars can still deliver pure joy of driving.”


Related article: Mazda’s first all-electric model – the MX-30


MAZDA MX-30

The MX-30 is currently only available for the European market. It is equipped with e-SKACTIV, Mazda’s new electric drive technology, which uses a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives a claimed range of approximately 200 kms. The driving range far exceeds the 48-km average daily drive of European customers, Mazda believes.

The Mazda CX-30 is available in Malaysia and to find out more about it, visit www.mazda.com.my.

First driving impressions: All-New Mazda CX-30

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The Ford Ranger Raptor, imported by Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), has been updated for 2020 with an added safety pack and additional features. Additional upgrades to the include an additional USB charging port on the rearview mirror and LED projector headlamps for greater visibility while driving at night.

In the area of safety, which Ford trucks are highly noted for, the latest Ranger Raptor is now equipped with additional intelligent advanced driver-assist features. They are Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning and Assist.

These advanced technologies are first-in-class and complement other smart technologies that can be found in the rest of the Ranger line-up.

Ford Ranger Raptor

“With the new enhancements to the Ford Ranger Raptor, this ultimate off-road truck is now perfected to conquer the streets, making it ideal for everyday use in addition to commanding the harshest terrains at thrilling speeds. We are confident that the Ranger Raptor will continue revolutionising the market for pick-up truck enthusiasts in Malaysia,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

With Ford’s Performance DNA infused into the ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger line, the Raptor has set a new benchmark as the only factory-built performance truck for high-speed off-roading.

Its powerful 2-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine produces 213 ps/500 Nm which goes to the rear or all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Ford Ranger Raptor engine

Ford Ranger Raptor

Extra ground clearance gives it class-leading water wading up to 850 mm while the long-travel FOX Racing Shox dampers can take on the roughest terrain. A Terrain Management System offers six modes, including a Baja Mode, which customise the engine and performance characteristics to the terrain for optimum grip and stability.

The Ranger Raptor is priced from RM208,888 (on-the-road, without insurance) and though it is more expensive that other pick-up trucks, demand for it has been surprisingly high. This could be because it’s not a ‘limited edition’ with just ‘look rugged and sporty’ bodykits but has genuine high-performance parts as well – and a factory warranty to go with it.

Ford Ranger Raptor

“During the Movement Control Order period, customers who have purchase enquiries on the New Ford Ranger Raptor may converse with us digitally via our newly launched Digital Salesperson, a WhatsApp Live Chat,” said Tuan Syed Muzri.


Related story:

SDAC’s Ford ‘Digital Salesperson’ at your service


For enquiries on the latest Ranger Raptor and other Ford models, contact the ‘Digital Salesperson’ from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday. Customers simply need to enter WhatsApp +6019-204 1200 to start chatting and queries will be attended to within 24 hours. Information can also be found at the SDAC Ford website.

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There was a tiny bit of good news today during the daily briefing by the Health Ministry. According to the Director-General, there are signs of reduced cases which suggests that the curve is flattening. It’s too early to celebrate but if this sign can become a sustained trend, then we will be winning the war against the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Flattening the curve
If we can flatten the curve, the number of cases will become lower and the hospitals will be able to help more infected people and save more lives.

The reduced cases can be attributed to the Movement Control Order being initiated 2 weeks ago. Though it has restricted movements of the general population nationwide and requires people to stay in their homes, it has been necessary to reduce, if not prevent, the spread of the virus. However, there is some flexibility which allows people to travel out of their homes to get essential items and they must immediately return after that.

Because there are people (about 3% of road-users) who don’t appreciate such flexibility and take advantage of it, the police have had to be more strict in enforcing the MCO. Roadblocks have been set up in many areas, some roads are closed off, and only one person can be in the vehicle – and must have valid reasons for being away from the home. Those who do not obey orders to return home if their reason is unacceptable can be arrested.

PDRM roadblock

Now, with the second phase of the MCO starting which will last until April 14, there is an additional restriction. You can only travel up to 10 kms from your residence to purchase the essential items. This new condition has been introduced since it was found that there were people who were using the journey as a chance to drive around, perhaps to enjoy the empty roads.

In Penang, for example, there were people who insisted on crossing to the mainland to buy their things. The police did not allow that and ordered them to turn around and buy from stores on the island. This is what happens when a few people are stubborn and disobedient and the rest of us also suffer.

Of course, the authorities are not considerate and if there is a valid reason to travel further, eg to a hospital or to visit sick parents at a different home, then permission can be given for travel to be undertaken.

Petrol station
During the MCO period, petrol stations must remain closed between 8 pm and 8 am and that includes their convenience stores.

Meanwhile, supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores as well as petrol stations will be limited to operating hours between 8 am and 8 pm. The same hours apply to places selling food which have not been permitted to allow customers to eat on their premises; they can only offer takeaways or cater to orders sent by food delivery services. So if you are ordering food, be sure to do so by 7 pm.

Therefore, other than an emergency, you should not be on the road after 8 pm. If you miss going out to the mamak stall with your friends at night, it’s too bad that we can’t do it now. But what you can do is help to keep the number of infected people from going up and that means…

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Handwash

If you follow news (and who does not?) about the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that has swept the planet, you will read about the urgent need by hospitals in every country for medical equipment. The number of cases has been growing very, very fast – in some countries, it doubles every 3 days. Thousands of patients now require intensive care as their condition has become worse. No country was prepared for a crisis of such a scale and so the equipment and facilities were not more than what was thought to be sufficient for the population.

Ventilators are one of the items that are crucial as the patients suffering from COVID-19 have breathing difficulties. The virus attacks their lungs and they need assisted air intake otherwise they will not have enough air for their body. Ventilators can provide such assistance and companies around the world with the capability have been racing to develop and then make ventilators.

SEAT uses its engineering expertise
SEAT, the Spanish carmaker, is one of the companies that has developed automated ventilators with its expertise. Its engineers developed a total of 13 different prototypes were tested before the final design was agreed upon. The team is now testing the ventilators in collaboration with the local healthcare authority to get approval for mass production.

SEAT ventilators

SEAT ventilators
Parts from SEAT cars have been adapted for use in the ventilators.

The ventilators – made up of 80 electronic and mechanical components – utilize adapted windscreen wiper motors, gearbox shafts and printed gears. Each ventilator will undergo a thorough quality control check with ultraviolet light sterilization before being shipped out.

The facility where the ventilators will be made produces the new Leon model. 150 employees from different areas will work on modified workstations. “Taking an assembly line that manufactures subframes, a car part, and adapting it to make ventilators has been a lengthy, difficult job involving many areas of the company, and we managed to do it in the record time of one week,” said Sergio Arreciado, a member of SEAT’s Process Engineering team.


Related stories

F1 Community Provides Expertise To Develop Life-Saving Breathing Aids

Ford uses manufacturing and engineering expertise to help in war against COVID-19


Lamborghini makes masks and face shields
Meanwhile, Lamborghini has converted its super sportscar production plant to produce surgical masks and protective plexiglass shields. The masks will be donated to a hospital in Bologna, Italy for the use of healthcare personnel.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini

Work is carried out by personnel of the saddlery that produce the interiors and specialty customization for Lamborghini cars, producing 1,000 masks a day. The medical shields will be produced as a rate of 200 units a day, using 3D printers within the carbonfibre production plant and the R&D department.

“During this emergency, we feel the need to make a concrete contribution. The S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital is an institution with which we have had a collaborative relationship for years, through both professional consultancy in promoting programs to protect our workers’ health, and in research projects. We will win this battle together by working in union, supporting those who are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic every day,” said Stefano Domenicali, Chairman & CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

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Social distancing

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The 772-km North-South Expressway (NSE) which runs along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia was opened in 1982 and completed in stages by 1994. From the start, the standards of highway maintenance and safety were high, in line with international standards. Vehicles could travel speedily (up to the maximum limit of 110 km/h) along the multi-lane highway from Johor Bahru up to the Thai border, bypassing the old roads that were winding and narrow.

PLUSRonda

30 years ago today, April 1 1990, PLUSRonda began operations as a value-added highway patrol service provided by PLUS Malaysia Berhad, the concessionaires. The objective, which is the same today, is to ensure that the highway-users who encounter difficulties during their travels are given assistance. Be it a tyre puncture, stalled vehicle due to a flat battery or even an accident, the PLUSRonda team will arrive at the scene without fail.

“The PLUSRonda is one of the most iconic frontliners on PLUS highways. It is somehow even more meaningful that in the midst of the Covid-19 adversity, the 30th Anniversary of PLUSRonda is celebrated in remembrance of their purpose and sacrifices. While PLUS employees adhere to the Movement Control Order, many of our PLUSRonda are on-call; a patrolling schedule has been implemented to maintain the necessary response period in view of the lower traffic count,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“We are very cognizant of the hazards that our frontliners are exposed to, which is why we have pulled out all the stops to ensure that every aspect of health, safety and security for them are provided for, so they may continue to execute their duties without fear or worries,” added Datuk Azman.

PLUSRonda

The pioneer team
The first batch of the PLUSRonda team consisted of 10 men who were joined by another ten during the first year in 1990. One of the pioneers, Zainal Abidin bin Lazim is still on active duty today and is based in Tangkak, Johor. Although aged 54, Encik Zainal Abidin Lazim continues to serve PLUS in the Traffic Safety Department, along with a few others of the original team.

“We are proud of our PLUSRonda, they are brave men who have only a single intention and that is to do their best for the safety and comfort of everyone who journeys along our highways, day and night. Their tireless conviction makes them a welcome sight when one is in distress along the NSE or LPT2,” said Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi, PLUS Chief Operating Officer.

“Many do not know that apart from saving lives at crash sites or attending to breakdowns, our PLUSRonda have also delivered babies in a number of emergency cases on the highway. Their training ranges from technical to medical aspects, equipping them with life-saving skills to be called upon when the situation arises,” he added.

PLUSRonda

Covering two highway networks
There are 574 PLUSRonda officers to cover the entire NSE and LPT2 (East Coast Expressway) highways. The PLUS highway network has 4 regions (including the East Coast) and each region has between 6 to 7 sections. Each section has a fleet of PLUSRonda patrol vehicles crewed by a pair of patrolmen. Prior to the MCO, the PLUSRonda routine was to patrol in a looping format so that they could be at the scene of any traffic incident (depending on the situation) within 30 minutes or less.

PLUSRonda

“My reason for becoming a PLUSRonda patrolman is to help others in any small way that I can. I am happy knowing our highway customers can travel safer when my partner and I are patrolling. The idea that I can help those in distress keeps me going. Being in PLUSRonda also offers me job security too,” said Encik Zainal Abidin Lazim. “I am proud that PLUS is fully committed to safety. While we are the last line of defence, safety on the roads is primarily in the hands of each of our highway-user.”

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PLUS receives Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for road safety initiatives in 2019

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The purpose of the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been to limit movement of people so as to cut back the transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Close contact allows the virus to spread and from just one infected person, hundreds more can be infected.

Today would have been the last day of the Movement Control Order (MCO) which was introduced on March 18. It has been tough on many people, especially those with small businesses that are very dependent on daily earnings. Everyone thought that it would be for 2 weeks and then the MCO would end and life would go back to ‘normal’.

Flattening the curve
Why flattening the curve of new cases is crucial to winning the battle against COVID-19.

But the numbers have continued to rise and even though we don’t have the frightening exponential increases in cases and deaths like in Italy or Spain, the fact remains that the ‘curve’ has not been flattened. This is the graphic representation of the number of cases and measures like the MCO and social distancing are meant to flatten the curve so that the number of cases can be lowered and the hospitals can then cope. In some other countries, the hospitals have been overwhelmed that doctors are facing the dilemma of who gets life-saving equipment and who does not and is likely to die.

We are actually luckier than people in other countries which have lockdowns and strict enforcement by police and soldiers. The MCO requires people to remain at home but it is still ‘reasonable’ in that those who are in need of food, additional essential supplies or medicine can still travel. They can go to get what they need and must then return, not wander around town and enjoy the empty roads.

Roads
The roads may be great for driving because they are so empty but you cannot wander around during the MCO period.

Yet there have been stubborn people who just do not understand how important following the MCO is. According to the authorities, they are about 3% of road-users but these 3% have made things worse for the rest of us. The extension of the MCO by another 2 weeks is not necessarily their fault as the situation has been difficult to overcome, though it has been said to be ‘stable’ with 150 to 200 new cases daily. But because of the indifference and stubbornness of those 3%, we will all face stricter controls from tomorrow.

The National Security Council has given assurance that there will not be a curfew although operating hours for supermarkets, grocery shops, convenience stores and petrol stations will be limited to between 8 am and 8 pm. The same applies to places selling food which have not been permitted to allow customers to eat on their premises; they can only offer takeaways or cater to orders sent by food delivery services.

So it is almost like a curfew and between 8 pm and 8 am, there should be no reason to leave your home unless you have a real emergency – like your wife is about to give birth or your grandfather is in urgent need of medical attention.

PDRM Roadblock
From tomorrow, with stores ordered to be closed between 8 pm and 8 am, there should be no reason to be on the road at night.

There are already restrictions on interstate travel but within towns and cities, things have been relaxed but it has been found that some people abuse the freedom permitted. For instance, some people from Penang island said they wanted to go to the mainland to buy groceries or their ‘favourite food’! As a result, the police will now limit the distance that can be travelled and if the destination is far away, you will be asked to turn around and find a store nearby.

Besides the restriction to one person in the vehicle doing the errands, the police will also check on temperatures of the drivers. Anyone found to have a fever will be immediately held back and send for screening. In this way, some of those who are carriers of the virus can be stopped from spreading it to others.

Red zones – areas with a large or sudden increase in cases – have been identified and the new strategy is to close off these areas. They may be whole districts like the one down in Johor or they may be a condominium complex like Menara City One in Kuala Lumpur. Residents are placed under an ‘Enhanced Movement Control Order’ which will make things unpleasant for them as they cannot leave at all.

StayAtHome

To manage things better, the police are also closing off some roads and filtering vehicles into specific channels for easier checking. More roadblocks will be set up so if you think you can get by one with your ‘story’, the police at the next roadblock might not accept it.

Terengganu is also considering a new approach using car numbers as eligibility for travelling. The idea to reduce traffic numbers was to have vehicles with numberplates ending with odd numbers allowed on one day and even numbers only on the next day. However, the plan which was to have started tomorrow has been postponed pending further study.

Covid-19 hotline

Details of new procedures that will be stricter will be announced tomorrow, according to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Meanwhile, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, the Health Ministry’s Director-General whom you see giving a briefing every day, has urged Malaysians to be more disciplined and abide by the MCO.

“It is really up to us. If all of us can come together as one, and stay at home, we at the Health Ministry can continue with public health activities and carrying out active case detection. We can increase testing and finding targeted groups, we test them and isolate them early. Then we can break the chain of Covid-19,” he said, adding that another extension of the MCO after April 14 would only be made after assessing the situation during the first week of April.

So please abide by the regulations and stay at home unless you have a valid reason to venture out. This is not a situation affecting just people in one city or state, it is nationwide and all Malaysians are having to go through it.

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