Cabinet to decide on APEC 2020 soon

PUTRAJAYA, 12 Mac -- Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Tugas-Tugas Khas) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof (dua, kiri) ketika sidang media selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Kerja Kluster Penyakit Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bilangan 3 Tahun 2020 di Bangunan Perdana Putra hari ini. Turut kelihatan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (kanan) dan Ketua Pengarah NADMA Datuk Mohtar Mohd Abd Rahman (kiri). --fotoBERNAMA (2020) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

Mohd Redzuan says the Cabinet will decide on the fate of APEC 2020 as the country faces the 2nd wave
of the virus

by DASHVEENJIT KAUR / pic by BERNAMA

THE government will decide on the fate of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020 Summit, which is scheduled to take place in November, as Malaysia grapples with the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s (PM) Department (special functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said discussions are ongoing within the government to study all types of upcoming public and international gatherings.

“In terms of gatherings or events, especially scheduled ones like APEC 2020, discussions are being held on whether it should go on or otherwise.

“The Cabinet will decide on the fate of APEC 2020. We take the situation very seriously as the country is now dealing with the second wave of the virus,” he told reporters after attending the Covid-19 cluster Working

Committee meeting in Putrajaya yesterday. Malaysia is host to the summit which is themed, “Optimising Human Potential Towards a Future of Shared Prosperity”. Meetings among senior officials have taken place around the country since February and will go on until November.

The first APEC 2020 meeting involving APEC ministers responsible for trade, which was initially scheduled for April 20 and 21 in Sabah, has been proposed to be relocated to Kuala Lumpur instead.

Malaysia was also the host back in 1998 during the Asian Financial Crisis.

This year, it is grappling with a pandemic which has infected 158 people in the country and more than 126,000 worldwide (at press time).

As of yesterday, there were nine new cases in the country. Six cases have recovered, bringing the total numbers of recovered cases to 32.

“The number of cases is expected to rise around the world, hence, we have to take every precaution step possible,” Mohd Redzuan said.

No casualties have been reported in Malaysia, while more than 4,600 deaths have been reported worldwide.

Asked if there would be an implementation of non-essential travel ban, Mohd Redzuan said the government will make the announcement today.

“After a green light from the PM, we will make that announcement today.

“We have identified countries with high numbers of cases and deaths. Actions will be taken immediately upon an agreement from the PM,” he added.