Mohd Rezuan Othman would normally travel from Kuala Lumpur to his hometown in southern Malaysia to spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri 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 yesterday, just days before Hari Raya, he and millions of others are being forced to stay apart from loved ones during the annual celebration because of strict restrictions on travel...