Malaysia army to enforce curbs

Malaysia will mobilise the army to help enforce curbs on movement aimed at reining in the coronavirus, the government said yesterday, as it grapples with the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia reported 130 new infections yesterday, taking its total to 1,030, accounting for nearly 40 percent of those across Southeast Asia.

Since Wednesday, Malaysia has closed its borders, schools and non-essential businesses for two weeks and ordered people to limit going outside, warning of a "tsunami" of cases if the curbs are not followed.

But people continued to go to restaurants and parks, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

"The army will begin mobilising on Sunday," he told a news briefing. "We are confident with the army's assistance, we would be better able to enforce this order."

People could be arrested if they defy the curbs without good reason, he said.

An Islamic gathering in Kuala Lumpur that was attended by 16,000 people has been linked to nearly 750 cases in Southeast Asia. In Malaysia alone, the event has been linked to nearly 624 cases, nearly two-thirds of its the total number.

Citizens of two dozen countries attended, and at least 61 cases in Brunei, 22 in Cambodia and several in Indonesia, Thailand and Indonesia have been linked to it.