In a Facebook post, Najib said relaxing certain restrictions in the first 14 days would not help to bring down the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country.

“The MCO this time does not seem firm; it is ineffective and will not achieve its goals. Too many exceptions have been granted.”

He said stores selling furniture, jewellery and luxury goods were still allowed to open, despite being under the MCO 2.0.

Factories and the construction sector, which had been the biggest contributor towards the third wave of the pandemic, were also operating as usual.

Meanwhile, he noted that many Malaysians have tested positive for Covid-19 but have not been taken to the hospital for treatment as the wards had reached full capacity.

“With the government’s aid for the people, let us suffer for the first two weeks so the healthcare system and frontliners can recover, and to avoid the MCO being extended over and over again.

“Short-term pain is better than long-term suffering,” said Najib.

MCO 2.0 was enforced on Wednesday in five states and the Federal Territories. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has said the lockdown could be extended to a maximum of four weeks.

It sees restrictions on interstate and interdistrict movements, with only certain economic sectors allowed to operate until Jan 26.