Drive-in cinemas get the green light to operate

mazwin@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians can watch movies under the stars soon with the green light given for drivein cinemas.

But with the Covid-19 pandemic, strict standard operating procedure (SOP) will be imposed on cinemagoers and operators.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said patrons must remain in their vehicles throughout the movie with food ordered online only.

Revealing the decision made by the special ministerial committee chaired by him, the Senior Minister said Rela personnel would keep things in check at the sites.

The ministries in charge of drawing up the SOP would be Multimedia and Communications, and Housing and Local Government, he added.

Ismail Sabri also said that six Malaysians returning from abroad on Wednesday tested positive for

Covid-19.

There were among 630 citizens who returned that day via Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KLIA2 from Singapore, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Brunei and Timor-Leste.

“The six were sent to hospital. The rest were ordered to observe the 14-day mandatory quarantine at home,” he said.

From June 10 to July 8, health authorities screened 13,918 travellers who arrived at KLIA and KLIA2, with 58 testing positive for the coronavirus.

As for Ops Benteng, Ismail Sabri said police arrested 10 foreign nationals at roadblocks held nationwide for various immigration offences.

“We are serious in curbing the illegal entry of foreigners. Checks along the border have been tightened to ensure no one enters through illegal routes,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said the police-led task force to monitor compliance with the SOP made 66,629 checks on supermarkets, restaurants, banks, factories, hawkers, transport terminals and government offices on Wednesday.

He said police arrested 11 people for violating the recovery movement control order and for failure to observe the SOP.