Everything About M’sia’s Extension of RMCO Whereby JB Weekend Trips Aren’t Possible Till 2021

When you read the headline, you’d most probably go “OMG” and then thought Malaysia has just suddenly closed its borders, and that there are some changes in Malaysia’s border controls.

But thankfully, you’ve here in this article because despite how “breaking” the headline sounds like and how accurate it is, I won’t blame you for thinking that there’s some change when there isn’t any.

Here’s everything you need to know about the extension of the RMCO, simplified for you.

Everything About M’sia Extension of RMCO Whereby JB Weekend Trips Aren’t Possible Till 2021

Firstly, some context that you might have forgotten: from 18 March 2020, Malaysia imposed the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Singaporeans bought more toilet rolls from NTUC FairPrice.

The partial lockdown was then shocking because not many countries have done it yet, and it was supposed to last for two weeks but it eventually lasted till 9 June 2020.

By then, the MCO has gone through “revisions”—some restrictions were lifted and more shops could open.

The next stage is Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), which supposedly lasts from 10 June 2020 to 31 August 2020.

The RMCO is almost akin to Phase 2 + 3 in Singapore.

For comparison’s sake, just think of it this way:

18 March to 3 May: Circuit Breaker Boleh Style

4 May to 9 June: Phase 1 Boleh Style

10 June to 31 Aug: Phase 2 + 3 Boleh Style

So the announcement mentioned yesterday (29 August 2020)?

It’s just an extension of “Phase 2+3”. Whatever is agreed upon in this phase will, of course, remain in place, like the travel bubble between Singapore and Malaysia. And whatever restrictions there are would remain, like the banning of tourists.

Which is why it’s actually not something that’s not unexpected, since the lifting of RMCO means Malaysia would be back to the Malaysia of 2019—you can’t expect a single country in the world to time travel back to pre-COVID-19 world. Even North Korea failed to do that.

However, just like Lawrence Wong, Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin urges people to stay disciplined because they would impose more restrictions if people don’t follow the rules. He said, “I am aware that based on global developments, we will go through a lengthy period before the country can be completely free from the threat of COVID-19.

“For now, the situation is controlled. However, if there is an increase in cases in certain locations, the government will take a targeted approach by implementing enhanced movement control order or targeted movement control order, as previously enforced in several locations.

“This means that the government requires a legal mechanism to continue efforts to curb and control the spread of COVID-19. Hence, for the benefit of you all, the government has decided to extend the recovery movement control order until 31 Dec 2020.”

And to simplify it even more, just imagine Lawrence Wong saying that Phase 3 will start from 31 August to 31 Dec lah. Got difference meh? I feel like we’re now in Phase 4.

Singapore and Malaysia, being BFFs now because we can’t argue whose nasi lemak is better, are doing almost the same thing except that Malaysia has a deadline for their “phases”.

And to add on, the Malaysia PM also highlighted that tourists are still banned in Malaysia—he didn’t, of course, specifically refer to Singaporeans to JB, but we just have to include that in our headline to clickbait you.

So, what’s new?

Nothing, actually.