MCO: No face-to-face meetings even for VVIPs

 

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has reiterated that politicians and VVIPs are not exempted from the standard operating procedures in regard to meetings.

He said those who plan to hold a meeting in a state under the movement control order (MCO) and conditional MCO have to do it virtually, just like the rest of ordinary folks.

For the record, the eight states and territories under the MCO are Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Malacca, Johor and Sabah.

States under the conditional MCO are Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, as well as three zones in Sarawak - Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

"Everyone has to follow the SOPs, be it MCO, conditional MCO or recovery MCO.

"So, if they (politicians and VVIPs) want to hold a meeting, do it virtually," Ismail Sabri said at a media conference today.

Earlier, the media asked him if the SOP to hold a meeting virtually was also being imposed on politicians and VVIPs.

Ismail Sabri added that even the National Security Council special meetings, which take place three times a week and are chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, are also done virtually.

As for media conferences, he said it's okay to proceed physically, as long as there's a physical distancing, and he added that there's a possibility of a new SOP for such conferences to be held virtually.

"Maybe there will be an SOP to do it virtually," he said.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin had announced tighter measures nationwide amid the surge of Covid-19 cases to four digits daily since November last year.

The restriction would be in place for two weeks, from tomorrow until Jan 26.

Perlis and Sarawak would be placed under the recovery MCO until March 31.

On top of that, inter-state and inter-district travels are disallowed nationwide.

Restrictions for MCO states

These are among the restrictions announced by Ismail in his media briefing today:

• The police will be stationed at entry and exit points;

• Residents are not allowed to leave their houses;

• Only two people from the same household are allowed to go out to buy groceries, medicine, and necessary items in a travel radius not exceeding 10km from the house, or the nearest destination if it is not located within the 10km radius;

• Only three people, including a patient, are allowed to go out to seek treatment in a travel radius not exceeding 10km, or the nearest location near the house if it is not located within the 10km radius;

• Those who have emergency cases are allowed to go in and out of the area with permission from the police;

• NGOs and individuals involved in humanitarian aid have to obtain permission from the police, and they must inform the Disaster Operation Control Centre; and
  

• Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) and Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) travel between Malaysia and Singapore will proceed based on the agreement.

Activities disallowed

According to Ismail, among the economic activities not allowed under the MCO are night markets, midnight bazaars, laundries, barbershops, saloons, eyewear shops, spas and reflexology centres.

Classes such as tuition, music, dance, arts, language and Quran recitals are also not allowed.

Also, entertainment venues and activities such as pubs and clubs, karaoke centres, cinemas, indoor playgrounds, outdoor parks, concert and live events are prohibited.

All activities related to meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions are also not allowed. This restriction also applies to states under the conditional MCO.

All sports activities, except jogging and cycling, are not allowed.

Tourism activities are also on hold. - Mkini