Health DG: No foreigners at places of worship due to living condition concerns

CORONAVIRUS | The Malaysian-only rule for non-Muslim places of worship is due to the Health Ministry’s concerns over cramped foreign worker living conditions.

The ministry’s director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also explained that the government’s latest announcement was aimed at allowing caretakers, not the congregation, to return to such places of worship.

Elaborating, Noor Hisham said the ministry will review if restrictions could be loosened based on compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP).

“It is not about foreign workers in terms of their occupation, but more importantly, we believe they stay in very closed, confined spaces. So the issue is the closed, confined spaces.

“Then because of that, we allow our Malaysians to start (returning to places of worship).

“Priority is given to the caretakers, Malaysians,” he said when asked about the ruling barring non-citizens from churches, temples and gurdwaras during his daily Covid-19 briefing this afternoon.

The present SOP allows a maximum of 30 people at non-Muslim places of worship provided social distancing and hygiene measures are followed.

This will come into effect on June 10 for a limited number of places of worship in green zones, and for limited days and timings.

Those above 70 years old and children below 12 are not allowed to attend the services.

“Maybe we can increase (the number of people allowed) once we are sure that SOP can be complied and adhered to.

“Then I think in stages, we will open the places of worship,” he said.

Noor Hisham reminded the public to play their part in breaking the chain of infection by following all SOPs issued by the ministry.

Following the government’s announcement on non-Muslim places of worship, the Council of Churches Malaysia has decided to keep member churches closed until the Health Ministry deemed Covid-19 no longer a public threat.

Muslim places of worship have been allowed to hold Friday prayers under strict conditions since May 14. - Mkini