PM announces nationwide MCO, tighter SOPs

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that the entire country would come under movement control order (MCO) with stricter SOPs in light of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.

In a statement, he said the government had decided to implement tighter measures in order to curb the virus spread.

He said the decision was made at a special meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by him today.

He added that no inter-district or interstate travel would be allowed except for emergency purposes and those related to health, work, the economy, vaccination appointments and for long-distance couples.

The travel ban will take effect from May 10 to June 6 while the other SOPs will be enforced from May 12 to June 7.

All forms of social gatherings including feasts, wedding and engagement celebrations, dinners, birthday celebrations and official events for both the government and private sector including seminars and face-to-face meetings will be prohibited, although the solemnisation of marriage vows will be allowed with a limited number of people and based on SOPs set by religious authorities or the National Registration Department.

Likewise, all sports activities will be prohibited except individual activities in open spaces with allowance for physical distancing such as jogging, cycling and exercising.

All institutions of education will be closed with exceptions made for students sitting for international examinations, although nurseries and kindergartens will be allowed to remain open subject to SOPs in order to help parents and guardians who are working.

The number of passengers in vehicles, whether private, taxis or e-hailing, will be limited to three including the driver.

The number of people allowed in vehicles for business purposes such as the transportation of goods will depend on the number allowed in the vehicle registration licence.

Dine-in activities will continue to be prohibited, while employers are required to implement the work from home approach with not more than 30% of management staff present at any given time.

No house-to-house visits or visits to graves will be allowed for Hari Raya although Aidilfitri prayers will be allowed at mosques and suraus limited to 50 people for premises that can fit more than 1,000 congregants and 20 for those that can accommodate fewer than 1,000.

SOPs for non-Muslim houses of worship will also be tightened. These will be announced by the national unity ministry.

The SOPs currently in place in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will be continued.

All economic sectors will be allowed to remain open during this period.

Muhyiddin said further details will be announced by the NSC.