KUALA PERLIS (Bernama): Perlis is expected to move to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) by next week, but it all depends on a decision from the Federal Government, says Datuk Seri Azlan Man.

       The state MB said that the matter would be tabled at a special meeting with the National Security Council (MKN) on Friday (July 2), for flexibility to be given to Perlis following several indicators set by the MKN that have been and are being met.

       "I have examined some of the complaints from the people of Perlis posted on various communication platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and so on. There are some good and pertinent input relating to the state. I would present it to the Federal Government for scrutiny and to be given leeway.

       "Perlis has only one indicator left to achieve to move to Phase Three of NRP. That is, the level of two-dose vaccination has not reached the rate of 40% in the state, ” he told reporters here on Thursday (July 1).

       Local media previously reported that Perlis only needed about 26% more of its population to receive two doses of Covid-19 vaccine to enable the state to enter Phase Three of the NRP, which allows free movement and economic activities without restrictions.

       To date, about 25% of Perlis residents have received the first dose of the vaccine, while 14% have received two doses.

       The three key threshold value indicators that need to be achieved to enable Perlis to move to Phase Two of NRP are the average daily Covid-19 cases dropping below 4,000, the bed utilisation rate in intensive care unit (ICU) at a moderate level and vaccination rate for the population that has received two complete doses reaching 10%.

       He said the state government had also intensified efforts at the grassroots level to enable the vaccination process to be carried out immediately.

       The media previously reported that Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu are among several states that are expected to move to Phase Two of the NRP next week.

       The decision to end the "total lockdown" in several states would be made by the Putrajaya administration based on the three key threshold value indicators in those states that have been successfully met as a result of the PPN.

       Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Wednesday (June 30) stressed that Malaysia is still in Phase One of the NRP, as the three key threshold value indicators have not yet been reached. - Bernama