KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must hold fast to its decision to transition to the endemic phase, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. The date of the transition will be decided by the Prime Minister, he said.

       “The final decision will be made by the Covid-19 pandemic management special committee, which is chaired by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and involves members of the Opposition as well as health experts.

       “We must not sway from our decision to move to the endemic phase. We must move forward,” he told reporters after attending the 12th Quartet Ministers’ Meeting at Wisma Pertahanan yesterday.

       Hishammuddin, who is the Defence Minister, said the government was aware that many were worried over the surge in cases of the Omicron variant.

       “But as we have seen via the Health Ministry reports, although positive cases are high, intensive care unit bed occupancy remains low.

       “This shows that the health system nationwide is still under control and not burdened,” he said.

       He reiterated the government’s stand against re-imposing large-scale movement control orders.

       “It won’t be a good move now because the economy, education system and livelihoods of the rakyat must continue moving,” he said, adding that only an enhanced MCO would be enforced within a locality that sees a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases.

       Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the Immigration Department, Health Ministry and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will study the National Recovery Council’s (NRC) recommendation to fully reopen Malaysia’s borders on March 1.

       “I understand that NRC chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had made an announcement this morning on the matter and at the quartet level, we have already instructed the Immigration Department, Health Ministry and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to study the matter.

       “Once they have discussed the matter at length, they will bring it back to the quartet before we raise it,” he said.

       Hishammuddin noted that the reopening of the borders is a major decision involving many factors.

       “We want people to come into our country but other countries have not made the same decision (to reopen their borders).

       “It’s a big decision that can only be discussed at the Cabinet or the Covid-19 pandemic management special committee level,” he said.