KUALA LUMPUR (May 10): Mohd Rezuan Othman would normally travel from Kuala Lumpur to his hometown in southern Malaysia to spend Eid al-Fitr with his family, but the country's latest nationwide Covid-19 lockdown has scuppered his plans for the second year in a row. Under measures announced on Monday, just days before Eid, he and millions of others are being forced to stay apart from loved ones during the annual celebration because of strict restrictions on travel. Malaysia was among the earliest countries in the region to impose a strict lockdown last year to keep the epidemic contained. But beyond the disruption of social lives, the repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of Mohd Rezuan and many others in Malaysia. One moment it's open, one moment it's closed," said Mohd Rezuan, speaking during a break from his work at a restaurant in a normally busy suburb of Kuala Lumpur, now unnaturally quiet.

Source: The Edge Markets May 10, 2021 15:11 UTC