JOHOR BAHRU, 15 April 2020:
No drive-through Ramadan bazaar is allowed to be carried out in Johor due to the Covid-19 outbreak, says the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar today.
His Majesty said the frontliners in the country were now tireless;y fighting to combat the infection.
“I am worried that if drive-through Ramadan bazaar is allowed, there will be traffic congestion to an extent that it will further burden the enforcement personnel on duty.
“In fact, there will be risks of close contact and if a new cluster surfaces, how are we going to control the infection?” His Majesty posted on his official Facebook page.
Sultan Ibrahim called on the people in the state to remain patient and persevere in this trying times with the enforcement of the third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“Patience is part of the (Muslim) faith. Please be patient and do not defy the MCO. Make sure you only go out when necessary.
“I am also confining myself (at home) and do not go anywhere, so I do understand the inconvenience in not being able to do the daily routine.”
The proposal to have Ramadan e-bazaar to be implemented this year using the concept of ‘drive-thru and pick-up’ will be scrutinised, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said, at present, the Cabinet had agreed to only allow the e-bazaar operations to be implemented through online ordering and e-hailing delivery services.
“The Cabinet wants the matter to be scrutinised because if the drive-through and pick up concept were to be introduced, I believe that many people will go out at the same time, hence increasing the number of vehicles on the road.
“If the people are allowed to go out even to make a drive-thru purchase or to pick up their orders, more excuses will be given to the police, especially those MCO flouters,” he told the daily press conference on the MCO here today.
smail Sabri said such excuses will definitely make it difficult for the police to ensure compliance of the MCO.
Meanwhile, when asked on Perlis government’s decision to allow food sellers to sell their products by the roadsides as an alternative, the senior minister suggested the state government defer the decision until the standard operating procedures (SOP) is coordinated at the federal level.
“Although all district and municipal councils have the authority to decide, we suggest that they wait until we can coordinate the SOP so that there will not be any discrepancies between the decision made by state and federal governments.
”The same goes with e-bazaar, we have asked the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to really look into it.”
– Bernama