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Malaysia implements four-week CMCO in most states starting 9 November

Malaysia implements four-week CMCO in most states starting 9 November

Due to the increasing COVID-19 cases, Malaysia has implemented a four-week Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in all states in the peninsula except Pahang, Perlis and Kelantan from 9 November to 6 December, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced at a press conference on 7 November. 

According to a Bernama report, Ismail Sabri said this was decided at a special meeting of the National Security Council (MKN) where a Health Ministry (MOH) report on the latest COVID-19 situation was tabled. 

He said: "The enforcement of this CMCO will enable MOH to conduct targeted screenings and reduce movements in the community, apart from curbing the spread of COVID-19 in these states."

In line with this new development, the CMCO in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, and Sabah will also be extended.

The standard operating procedure (SOP) for the CMCO remains the same as previously announced.

For employers and staff, this means only 10% of management and supervisory staff in a company can be in the office, limited to four hours, from 10am to 2pm, three days a week.

ALSO READ: FAQs on work-from-home regulations in CMCO areas in Malaysia: Who can return to office, stipulated hours, and more 

While inter-district travel in Pahang, Kelantan and Perlis is allowed, travel between these states and those under the CMCO is not allowed.

Ismail Sabri explained: "For example, the people in Kedah which is under CMCO cannot travel to Perlis which is green or vice-versa, except with police permission. We want to shield Perlis from individuals from Kedah as they might carry the virus. The same goes for travel between Pahang and Terengganu, and Pahang and Kuala Lumpur; it is not allowed."

Further, travel from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan to Sarawak as well as from Sarawak to states under the CMCO is not allowed. However, inter-district travel within Sarawak is allowed except for Kuching district which has recorded a high number of COVID-19 cases.

14-day CMCO for Kuching district

On the same day, Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced that the Kuching district would undergo the CMCO enforcement for 14 days - from 9 November to 22 November.

According to a report by Bernama, Uggah, who is also Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister 1, said the decision was made after evaluating the situation and taking into consideration the number of cases recorded in the district in the last 14 days.

Uggah said: "Inter-district travel within the state is allowed except entering and leaving Kuching district. Meanwhile, inter-state travel from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan is not allowed except for those with permission from the Royal Malaysia Police."

Photo / 123RF

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