MCO for all states from tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will implement the movement control order (MCO) nationwide from tomorrow to June 7 in an effort to curb the growing spread of Covid-19.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the enforcement of the MCO after a special National Security Council (NSC) meeting on management of Covid-19, which he chaired in Putrajaya yesterday.

“With daily cases exceeding 4,000, 37,396 active cases and 1,700 fatalities reported as of May 10, Malaysia is facing the third wave of the pandemic, which can trigger a national crisis.

“The emergence of new variants with higher infection rates, an alarming constraint to the capacity of the healthcare system and poor SOP (standard operating procedures) compliance among the people demand that the government take a more drastic action to prevent the country from falling into a more severe health catastrophe,” he said.

Following the implementation of the MCO, Muhyiddin said house-to-house visits as well as visits to cemeteries during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations are banned.

“Aidilfitri prayers will be allowed, but limited to only 50 people for mosques and surau with a capacity exceeding 1,000 while only 20 people are allowed in mosques and surau that can accommodate less than 1,000.

“This limit will also be used for regular prayers and Friday prayers,” he said, adding that the operation of non-Islamic houses of worship would also be tightened and the SOP would be set by the National Unity Ministry.

Muhyiddin said employers were required to implement the work from home policy, with no more than 30% of their management staff present in the office at any one time.

For the public sector, the work from home policy will be determined based on guidelines issued by the Chief Secretary from time to time.

On the number of people allowed in private vehicles, taxis and e-hailing rides, Muhyiddin said it would be limited to three people, including the driver, while the number of people in vehicles that are part of the industrial and economic sectors would be based on the vehicles’ commercial registration licences.

“The number of people allowed in public transportation must be in accordance with physical distancing and comply with the stipulated SOP,” he said.

During the MCO, Muhyiddin said no dine-in at food premises will be allowed, except for drive-through and takeaway.

In announcing the closure of all educational institutions, Muhyiddin said exception would be made for students sitting for international examinations while child care centres, nurseries and kindergartens are allowed to operate according to stipulated SOP so as to assist working parents or guardians.

He said that inter-district and interstate travel are prohibited, except for emergencies, health matters, work and economic purposes, vaccination and long-distance couples.

Muhyiddin said all forms of social gatherings, including wedding and engagement receptions, prayer ceremonies and tahlil, dinners, birthdays, as well as official government and private functions are not allowed. All forms of face-to-face seminars, conferences and meetings are also prohibited.

However, akad nikah ceremonies are allowed, with the number of attendees and SOP to be set by the state Islamic agencies for Muslims and by the National Registration Department for non-Muslims.

All sports and recreational activities are also banned, except for individual sports and recreational activities in open areas, such as jogging, cycling and exercises.

Muhyiddin said the specific measures being implemented in Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan will be continued.

He said all economic sectors will be allowed to operate and a detailed SOP on prohibitions and directives for the MCO this time would be announced by the NSC.