PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (NNN-Bernama) — The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had to take bold and proactive measures in order to protect lives and livelihoods the past one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Muhyiddin Yassin.
The prime minister said while the government enforced the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the virus, it also implemented various economic stimulus packages worth RM305 billion to ease the people’s burden and ensure business continuity.
“Our main challenge is to strike a fine balance between protecting lives and livelihoods. In short, protecting lives and livelihoods are the key words which reflect the focus of the PN government the past one year,” he said in his One-Year Malaysia Prihatin Keynote Address here Monday.
Also present at the ceremony marking Muhyiddin’s first year in office were Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Works Minister Fadillah Yusof, Senior Education Minister Dr Radzi Jidin and heads of government departments.
Today marks the first anniversary of the PN government and Muhyiddin said throughout the past one year the country had been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked a global health and economic crisis not seen since the 1930s.
He said Malaysia was not spared the impact of the pandemic, as more than 300,000 people had been infected with the virus and the country’s economy shrank 5.6 per cent in 2020.
“I give an assurance and 100 per cent commitment that the Perikatan Nasional government will remain Prihatin Rakyat (a caring government),” he said.
Muhyiddin urged the people to register via the MySejahtera application for COVID-19 vaccination to help fight the pandemic and as a sign of support for the frontliners.
“I have taken my first dose and Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God) I’m healthy and able to work as usual. This vaccine is safe for me and Insya-Allah (God willing) it is also safe for all of you. Let’s all pray for protection against any misfortune and for all to be given lasting peace, security and well-being,” he added.
