The Movement Control Order (), commonly referred to as the MCO or PKP, was a series of national quarantine and cordon sanitaire measures implemented by the federal government of Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders were commonly referred to in local and international media as "lockdowns".

Beginning on 18 March 2020, the MCO was enforced nationwide and encompassed restrictions on movement, assembly and international travel, and mandated the closure of business, industry, government and educational institutions to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These measures were periodically relaxed and strengthened throughout the following 19 months in response to the changing epidemiology of the disease. Movement control orders were also localised to specific states and federal territories or smaller areas. The Movement Control Order was included in the National Recovery Plan (, shortened to NRP/PPN) launched in June 2021.

In October 2021, the Malaysian government lifted movement control restrictions for vaccinated people and announced its intention to treat COVID-19 as an endemic disease.

Progress timetable by phase +Movement Control Order by phasePhaseDateMovement Control Order (MCO/PKP, 18 March 2020 – 3 May 2020)Phase 118 March 2020 – 31 March 2020Phase 21 April 2020 – 14 April 2020Phase 315 April 2020 – 28 April 2020Phase 429 April 2020 – 3 May 2020Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO/PKPB, 4 May 2020 – 9 June 2020)Phase 14 May 2020 – 12 May 2020Phase 213 May 2020 – 9 June 2020Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO/PKPP, 10 June 2020 – 31 March 2021)Phase 110 June 2020 – 31 August 2020Phase 21 September 2020 – 31 December 2020Phase 31 January 2021 – 31 March 2021MCO by states (13 January 2021 – 31 May 2021)Each states switch between MCO, CMCO, RMCO, EMCO, and semi-EMCO depending on the COVID-19 condition in each states.Total lockdown (1 June 2021 – 28 June 2021)National Recovery Plan (NRP/PPN, 15 June 2021 – 31 December 2021)Phase 11 June 2021 – 1 October 2021Phase 1 (FMCO)1 June 2021 – 28 June 2021 Phase 25 July 2021 (began early with Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Perak)7 July 2021 (Penang)10 July 2021 (Sabah)14 July 2021 (Sarawak)26 August 2021 (Negeri Sembilan)4 September 2021 (Malacca)10 September 2021 (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya)24 September 2021 (Johor)1 October 2021 (Kedah)Period: 5 July 2021 – 18 October 2021 Note: No official announcement was made for Labuan. Phase 34 August 2021 (began early with Perlis, Sarawak and Labuan)4 September 2021 (Negeri Sembilan)17 September 2021 (Terengganu)24 September 2021 (Pahang)1 October 2021 (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca)8 October 2021 (Johor)18 October 2021 (Kelantan, Perak, Penang, Sabah, Kedah)Period: 4 August 2021 – 3 January 2022 Phase 426 August 2021 (began early with Labuan)24 September 2021 (Negeri Sembilan)8 October 2021 (Pahang)18 October 2021 (Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Malacca)25 October 2021 (Johor, Terengganu)8 November 2021 (Sabah, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak)3 January 2022 (Sarawak, Kelantan)

Chronology On 16 March 2020, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin made an official speech and officially promulgated the movement control order under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967. The order included the following restrictions: General prohibition of mass movements and gatherings across the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities. To enforce this prohibition, all houses of worship and business premises would be closed, except for supermarkets, public markets, grocery stores and convenience stores selling everyday necessities. Specifically for Muslims, the adjournment of all religious activities in mosques including Friday prayers would be in line with the decision made on 15 March 2020 by the Special Muzakarah Meeting of the National Council for Islamic Affairs. Sanctions covering all Malaysians travelling abroad. For those who have just returned from overseas, they would be required to undergo a health check and a 14-day quarantine (or self-quarantine). Restrictions on the entry of all tourists and foreign visitors into the country. Closure of all kindergartens, government and private schools including daily schools, boarding schools, international schools, tahfiz centres and another primary, secondary and pre-university institutions. Closure of all public and private higher education institutions (IPTs) and skills training institutes nationwide. Closure of all government and private premises except those involved in essential services (water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transportation, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire, prison, port, airport, safety, defence, cleaning, retail and food supply).

On 18 March, Malaysia began the implementation the movement control order. On 25 March, the prime minister through a live national broadcast announced a first extension of the MCO to last until 14 April.

There were, however, considerations of a further lockdown until late April or May as the number of cases in Malaysia is expected to peak in mid-April, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). On 8 April, Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the health ministry was having a discussion with the nation's cabinet regarding the possible extension of the MCO, with the decision of the MCO's duration to be announced no later than Friday. On 10 April, the prime minister announced a second extension of the MCO by another fortnight until 28 April, noting that his decision was to give space to the healthcare personnels battling the COVID-19 outbreak, apart from preventing the virus from spreading again and to avoid another increase of cases if the MCO is lifted too early. On the night of 23 April, Muhyiddin announced a third extension of the MCO by two weeks till 12 May, with the possibility of further extensions.

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) initially warned that violators of the MCO's regulation may be subjected to various penalties under the Penal Code. However, on 18 March, the chamber of the Attorney General released a federal gazette specific to the control order, where violations can be fined up to RM1,000 (US$229) and/or jailed not more than six months or both. On 14 April, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stated that compounds will no longer be issued by the police from the next day as the penalties were ineffective on reducing MCO violations, and offenders will be arrested and remanded instead.

Except for travel to Sarawak, a written police permit with a valid reason was originally planned to be required for interstate travel during the MCO. As a result, large crowds were reported to have gathered at police stations for permits hours before the travel restriction was in effect. Concerned that the crowding will exacerbate the spread of COVID-19, PDRM called off the permit plan a few hours before the MCO, until further notice.

During the MCO, PDRM conducted road blocks operations (codenamed "Ops COVID-19") along key points across the country, to monitor travellers and warn them to stay home and abide by the order. From 22 March, Malaysia's military forces were mobilised to augment PDRM's MCO operations; as of April, approximately 7,000 military personnel were deployed to assist. From 4 May, in line with the Conditional MCO, PDRM is planning to reduce roadblocks nationwide to focus on social distancing enforcements as well as curbing the entry of illegal immigrants and smuggling activities.

On 20 March, RapidKL trains had an extended waiting time of 10 minutes, from the previous duration of 3–8 minutes.

On 30 March, the national government designated that all businesses such as supermarkets and restaurants, including food delivery services can only be operated from 8 am till 8 pm starting from 1 April. Sarawak, however, insisted on its operation time of 7 am till 7 pm, citing that Sarawak's daylight is earlier than in West Malaysia. Further measures were instilled starting from 1 April; a person must not be accompanied with other people during travel, a 10 km travel radius for all travellers and the banning of all types of gatherings except for funerals, however the attendees must be kept to a minimum. People who travel for medical purposes are exempted from companion rule and the travel radius.

All levels of supply chains regarding agricultural and fishing industries are allowed to be in operation throughout the order. On 10 April, the Malaysian government gave permissions to certain businesses to operate during the order to ensure the sustainability of the country's economy, to prevent the loss of jobs among Malaysians and to ensure continuous access to basic needs and critical products.

The Malaysian Government had eased lockdown restrictions on 4 May under a "conditional MCO," which allowed certain business sectors to resume operations. On 10 May Prime Minister Muhyiddin announced in a live broadcast, that the CMCO will be extended until 9 June, the fourth extension since 18 March. Muhyiddin Yassin clarified that all rules and standard operating procedures (SOPs) introduced during the conditional MCO would remain in force until 9 June and that any changes to the SOPs or the list of sectors allowed to operate will be announced. There will be a ban on interstate movement during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Kaamatan Feast and Hari Gawai holiday periods.

Enhanced Movement Control Order From 27 March 2020, specific locations were subjected to a stay-at-home order, known as the "Enhanced Movement Control Order" (EMCO or Enhanced MCO), for 14 days if a large cluster was detected within the area for the government to conduct a thorough COVID-19 test towards all residents, and to curb the spread of the virus out of the areas. The orders included: All residents and visitors within the area are forbidden from exiting their homes during the order; non-residents and visitors outside the area cannot enter into the area subjected to the order; All businesses are shut down; adequate food supplies will be given by the authorities during the 14 day-order to all residents; a medical base will be established within the area; All roads into the area are blocked.

On 27 March, two areas in Simpang Renggam, Johor were subjected to the order till 9 April as those areas alone contributed to a high 61 positive cases. On 30 March, this order is applied to a few hamlets in Sungai Lui, Hulu Langat District, Selangor due to a detection of a cluster involving a madrasa with 71 positive cases. City One, a residential complex in Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur which its residents are mainly foreign workers was subjected to the extended order on 31 March as 17 cases involving residents of the tower were detected. Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion, apartment buildings located at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, were subjected to EMCOs on 7 April, as 15 positive cases were detected within the two buildings, while Jalan Masjid India and its surrounding areas were subjected to EMCOs on 14 April. Similarly, an EMCO order was placed for over 15,000 residents living around the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market in Selayang on 20 April until 3 May, following the detection of 20 cases and one fatality from the area.

On 6 April, Malaysia's Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, suggested that the government is planning for a new standard operating procedure regarding the EMCO and the government tried to not impose an excessively wide radius towards areas subjected to the EMCO.

On 9 November, the Government extended the Enhanced Movement Control Order over several areas in Sabah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Sarawak in response to a spike in cases nationwide.

Semi Enhanced Movement Control Order