PUTRAJAYA, 17 June 2020:
The government has allowed ministries as well as government and private agencies to hold meetings, seminars, workshops, training courses and conferences, subject to the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that in granting permission required – among other things – a maximum number of 250 participants; one metre of social distancing; all participants required to download the MySejahtera application and to scan the QR code during the registration process.
“In terms of food, buffet-style meals are not allowed. So, we ask for food to be packed,” he said at a daily press conference on the development of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) here today.
He emphasised that persons under investigation (PUI) and persons under surveillance (PUS) are not allowed to attend, and such events were prohibited from being held in areas placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
In addition, he said the government had also agreed to allow face-to-face interviews for the intake of new staff.
The Public Services Commission (SPA) would provide relevant SOP which would be reviewed by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the National Security Council (MKN) and the Prime Minister’s Department for approval.
Further, children are allowed at public places, including shopping centres and restaurants but all precautions must be taken to protect them during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Ismail Sabri said parents or guardians would not be punished for bringing along children to public places as there are no penalties gazetted for such actions.
“There are no restrictions for children to buy toys, shop and so on if they are with their parents.
“However, as I have always advised, if possible, try not to bring them along as children are part of the high-risk group, and parents must put their interests above anything else, even if they have face masks on.
“There are no penalties for this but since they are categorised under the Covid-19 high-risk group, we do not encourage children to tag along.”
He said the same applied for playgrounds and recreational centres as long as social distancing and crowd protocols are properly adhered to.
On whether cinemas are allowed to reopen, he said a decision has yet to be taken by the Special Ministerial Meeting on the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said pasar malam (night market) hawkers and traders must seek further details from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on the SOPs applied during the RMCO period.
“If there are matters that inconvenience them, their association must hold further discussions with DBKL to iron them out.
“DBKL can then bring these concerns to the special ministerial meeting, and if we can make amendments, then Insyaallah we will.”
He was asked on the fate of some 500 hawkers and traders of the Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) night market who have opted to postpone the resumption of their business under the RMCO after finding the set SOPs too restrictive.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the police conducted 69,370 RMCO compliance inspections nationwide, involving 16,712 personnel, yesterday.
At the same time, he said police detained 61 individuals for defying RMCO directives.
“Of these, nine individuals were remanded while 52 were compounded. Among the violations were indulging in pub and nightclub activities (44 individuals), reflexology and massage (4), and activities that did not comply with social distancing requirements.”
– Bernama