Malaysia may extend its travel curbs beyond April 28 but with more sectors open for business, its second-most senior minister told Reuters today as the government tries to balance health and economic requirements during the Covid-19 crisis.

A partial lockdown since March 18 has badly hurt South-east Asia’s third biggest economy, which until the start of this week had the highest number of reported coronavirus infections in the region. Today, it recorded the lowest number of daily increases in new cases since the curbs were imposed.

The government, which took office only last month after the previous ruling coalition imploded, has already announced a RM260 billion stimulus package to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the economy and its people.

“Based on our discussions, the movement control order may still be in place but we may have to see what are the areas that we can relax and open up, to strike a balance between the requirements of the health of the people and also the economic priorities,” Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, the minister of international trade and industry and the government’s designated second-in-command, said in a telephone interview.

Malaysia today reported 69 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 5,251 patients, 86 of whom have died.

Its central bank forecast this month that the economy could shrink by as much as two per cent or grow 0.5 per cent in what would be its worst economic performance in more than a decade. The economy grew 4.3 per cent last year.