Stay vigilant, minister tells people in states not under CMCO

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents in states that have a relatively low number of Covid-19 cases, such as Perlis, Kelantan and Pahang, have been advised against taking it easy as there is always a possibility that cases could surge.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said any state can turn into yellow or red zones if the standard operating procedures were taken lightly.

He cited Selangor, where the authorities had to lock down only the Klang subdistrict.

“Cases later began spreading all over Klang and Selangor. Now, almost all areas there are red zones.

“A similar situation happened in Negri Sembilan. Cases began in Seremban and quickly spread to other areas. Now only Tampin is a green zone.

“People must remember that once the virus is in the community, it can spread to other areas,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Ismail Sabri, who is also senior d e f e n c e m i n i s t e r, a l s o a nnounced that the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) had been extended in five locations for two more weeks due to the continued surge in Covid19 cases.

He said the EMCO at the Mutiara Kasih public housing project and Taman Khazanah Indah in Lahad Datu would be extended to Nov 23, while the EMCO in Plaza Hentian in Kajang, Putra

Point in Negri Sembilan and Kampung Haji Baki in Sarawak will be extended to Nov 24.

For Kampung Haji Baki, he said, the EMCO could end earlier if the pending test results turned out negative.

The EMCO in Felda Umas Kalabakan in Sabah ended yesterday, while the one in the Sungai Emas Flats in Selangor will end today.

He said the government had agreed to impose the EMCO on Kampung Sabah Baru in Lahad Datu based on recommendations by the Sabah National Security Council and the Health Ministry.

He said the EMCO there would run from today to Nov 23.

A total of 441 people had been screened and 102 positive cases were recorded on Sunday, he said.

Ismail Sabri also touched on Deepavali celebrations, and said the authorities would patrol housing areas to ensure SOP compliance, as they did during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

“Only 20 people will be permitted to gather per house. If there are more and they flout the SOP, action will be taken.”

Wedding ceremonies and other social gatherings, he said, were still not allowed in areas under the Conditional MCO.

He added that it was possible that only akad nikah ceremonies would be allowed.

This, he said, would apply first to Kuala Lumpur, whereas other states would require the consent of the respective sultans.

The SOP governing the ceremony would be announced soon by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.

The government, he said, was also scrutinising the SOP for the operation of childcare centres and kindergartens.

“We have asked Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun to come up with the SOP.

“Previously, they were able to operate by complying with the SOP.

“We will also discuss the matter with the Public Service Department and International Trade and Industry Ministry.”