PUTRAJAYA, 1 May 2020:
The government will implement the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), with most economic and social activities allowed to resume on May 4, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He said this decision was taken after two of the six strategies adopted by the government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and build resilience through the Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package have yielded positive results.
“We are ready to carry out our third approach, which is to reopen economic activities nationwide in a controlled and careful manner. As such, the government will now be implementing the Conditional Movement Control Order or CMCO,” he said in his special address in conjunction with Workers’ Day today.
However, activities that involved large gatherings and ones that could expose the public to the risks of infection are still disallowed, the prime minister stressed.
The next three strategies to be taken are economic recovery measures while dealing with the new normal, revitalising the economy in a comprehensive manner for continuity and reforming economic structures.
Muhyiddin said the government would need to find ways to balance the need to revive the country’s economy and curbing the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the nation has suffered estimated losses of about RM63 billion so far throughout the MCO period, adding that many have had their financial positions affected by the pandemic.
“I am aware that after almost two months of the MCO, many of you who want to return to work. Traders want to resume businesses and industries want to operate again.
“This is important as employment and businesses are a source of income and your livelihood. If we are to be placed under MCO for too long, we could lose all that (livelihood) and this will have a negative impact on one’s financial position.”
Inter-state travel to go back to the hometown for the Aidilfitri holidays and to attend open houses is not allowed, said Muhyiddin.
However, he said, inter-state travel is only allowed for the purpose of work and for people to return to their homes after being stranded in their hometowns or elsewhere.
“Social, community and cultural events involving large gatherings such as feasts, open houses, break-of-fast meals, concerts, cultural shows, monthly gatherings of government departments and the private sector, as well as all forms of official ceremonies and assemblies are not allowed.”
Muhyiddin also said religious activities such as religious marches, Friday prayers and all congregational or assembly activities in mosques, surau and houses of worship are also not allowed for the time being.
“There are several categories of industries and businesses which are still not allowed to operate, as it involves gatherings and physical contact where social distancing would be hard to enforce.
“This includes cinemas, karaoke centres, reflexology centres, recreational centres, night clubs, theme parks, Ramadhan bazaars, sales carnivals as well as conferences and exhibitions,” he said, adding that sports activities which involves gatherings, physical contacts and other activities which poses infection risks will also not be permitted.
Barber shops and salons too aren’t allowed to operate just yet, as are common facilities like gyms and swimming pools.
The following is the essence of the MCO easing announced by Muhyiddin:
- Restaurants are allowed to operate, observing the business SOP which includes social distancing and recording the names and telephone numbers of customers and the dates of their visit.
- Cinemas, karaoke centres, reflexology centres, entertainment centres, night clubs, theme parks, Ramadan bazaars, Aidilfitri bazaars, shopping carnivals and all forms of conferences and exhibitions are not allowed.
- Sports activities involving large gatherings, body contact and other risks of infection are also not allowed, including football, rugby, swimming and all indoor and stadium sports events.
- Outdoor sports activities which do not involve body contact and in small groups such as badminton or tennis outdoors without an audience, jogging, cycling, golf and running comprising of not more than 10 persons are allowed on condition social distancing is practised.
- Social, community and cultural events which involve large gatherings such as feasts, open houses, break-of-fast events, concerts, cultural shows, monthly assemblies of government departments and the private sector, as well as all types of official events and assemblies are not permitted.
- Religious activities such as religious marches, Friday prayers and all congregational or assembly activities in mosques, surau and houses of worship are also not allowed.
- Inter-state travel are not allowed except for work purposes and to return home after being stranded in the hometowns or elsewhere.
- Inter-state travel to go back to the hometown for the Aidilfitri festival holidays is not allowed.
- For now, all schools, colleges and tertiary institutions are still not opened.
- The full list of businesses or activities which are not allowed (to operate) can be obtained at the National Security Council’s website. It is updated from time to time, depending on the development of COVID-19 cases.
- All employers are urged to implement flexible working hours as part of the effort to prevent congestion at public transportation stations and in public vehicles.
- Public and private sector employees are encouraged to work from home as the new normal.
- Employers should give some leeway to married couples to work on alternate days, thus helping solve the problem of childcare.
- Avoid congestion at bus, LRT and MRT stations.
- Practise wearing masks and always bring along the hand sanitiser when outside the home.
- Download the MySejahtera and MyTrace applications to facilitate contact tracing.
– Bernama