Religious leaders to discuss gatherings

One metre apart: People performing Friday prayers for the first time since the MCO began at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: With prayers at mosques now permitted under strict conditions, the government will be looking at easing rules for gatherings at places of worship for other faiths.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique would meet with religious leaders to discuss the standard operating procedure to allow such gatherings.

“The minister will be meeting leaders representing Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Taoists in the country.

“A presentation will be made to the Cabinet as late as next Tuesday before a decision can be made, ” said Ismail Sabri at a National Security Council press conference here yesterday.

Yesterday, mosques in Covid-19 green zones were allowed to conduct Friday prayers under conditions such as limiting the size of the congregation to 30 people.

The one-metre distancing rule also applied, with people not allowed to shake hands or gather after the end of the session.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the interstate travel ban still applied and police roadblocks would be in place to prevent people from freely crossing state borders.

He also dismissed claims that some individuals had managed to slip through police detection when crossing states, even to the point of boasting about it on social media.

“Those claims about people being able to sneak across borders, I am not sure if they are true. Sometimes, these are just provocations.

“In the past, (there was) one individual who took a selfie of a group of people breaking the movement control order. Go ahead and do it. The police will surely go after you, ” said Ismail Sabri.

The police had only allowed interstate travel within a four-day window from May 7 for those who had obtained approval via the Gerak Malaysia app.

Malaysia’s conditional movement control order is scheduled to end on June 9, barring any further extensions.

Ismail Sabri said the government had not allowed the film and television industry to resume their activities, even under strict procedures, as there were many considerations.

“We have not made any decision on this. There are many things to consider.

“For example, it is difficult to apply social distancing to actors and film crew. So, we will put this decision on hold first until after Hari Raya. We will consult the Health Ministry as well, ” he said.

He added that the government acknowledged that the film and television industry was suffering from a loss of income due to Covid-19-related restrictions. - Star