- Advertisement -
News

Govt to streamline SOPs from 181 to 10

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein also says SOPs will be further relaxed for the social and economic sectors.

Bernama
2 minute read
Share
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein speaks at a press conference in Parliament, flanked by (from left) health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein speaks at a press conference in Parliament, flanked by (from left) health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

The government is working to streamline the existing Covid-19 SOPs so that they are better understood by the people, industry players and enforcement agencies.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said there are currently 181 SOPs covering all four phases of the National Recovery Plan which the government plans to reduce to 10.

“The move to streamline the SOPs which we have been using for more than a year will definitely take some time.

“However, the government is committed to resolving the matter before we transition to the endemic phase,” he said in a news conference on the outcome of the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting in Parliament today.

Also present were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

In order to determine how the existing SOPs can be streamlined, Hishammuddin said the government would take into account not only scientific data, especially from the health ministry, but also feedback and views from experts and industries.

“Developments will be announced from time to time,” he added. “We will probably take two to three weeks to complete it.”

In the meantime, Hishammuddin said the Special Committee on Pandemic Management meeting had agreed to further relax the SOPs, especially for those in the low-risk category.

He said the government took into account the pressure and fatigue experienced by the people after more than a year of living in a pandemic situation that had restricted activities and movement.

“We cannot allow this situation to continue because it could lead to a more serious impact, especially on mental health.

“The prime minister will announce the additional relaxations for the social and economic sectors in the near future,” he said.