The declaration of emergency has allowed the government to better handle the Covid-19 situation in the country, including through the amendment of several specific acts to curb the spread of the disease, said Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin.

Stressing that there was no hidden agenda by the government in declaring the emergency, he said among the amended acts was the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act 2019 (Act 446) to ensure better living conditions for foreign workers.

"Without (the emergency)...