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Lockdown measures originally set to end on Monday would not be
eased until daily reported cases fell below 4,000, the state
news agency reported on Sunday, citing Muhyiddin.
On Monday, Malaysia reported 5,218 new infections, bringing
total cases to 739,266, including 5,001 deaths.
The latest aid package includes a fiscal injection of 10 billion
ringgit from the government, Muhyiddin said in a televised
address on Monday.
"What I can promise today is that, even within a narrow fiscal
space... I will not compromise in the effort to protect the
people's welfare and to fight COVID-19," he said.
The government will allocate an additional 3.8 billion ringgit
for a wage subsidy programme, and roll out more cash aid, loan
moratoriums, tax breaks, grants, subsidies and other measures,
Muhyiddin said.
The Southeast Asian nation would also spend an additional 1
billion ringgit to ramp up its inoculation programme, including
400 million ringgit to buy more vaccines, he added.
The funds would ensure 130% of the country's 32 million
population would be covered and would extend vaccinations to
youths aged 12 to 18.
In addition to lower infection numbers, the government has said
lockdown measures would only be eased when the country reached
specific targets in vaccination rates and healthcare capacity.
As of Saturday, around 15.5% of the population have received at
least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 6% have received two
doses, Muhyiddin said.
($1 = 4.1410 ringgit)
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Martin
Petty)
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