Malaysia releases new set of general SOPs for MCO: May 2021

These SOPs, which will apply "based on dates announced by the government from time to time," include rules on maximum capacity allowed at the workplace, Aidilfitri bazaar operations, cross-state/district travel permissions and more.

Malaysia's latest Movement Control Order (MCO 3.0/PKP), imposed in Kuala Lumpur, and districts in Johor, Perak, and Terengganu, takes effect today (7 May 2021), and began in six Selangor districts yesterday (6 May 2021).

In light of this, the National Security Council (MKN) has released a set of updated General SOPs for the MCO/PKP, which it states will apply "based on dates announced by the government from time to time."

Details of these SOPs, including rules of maximum capacity allowed at the workplace, Aidilfitri bazaar operations, cross-state/district travel permissions and more, are shared below.

Movement control within/across districts

• The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is responsible for implementing control over local areas of infection with the help of ATM, APM & RELA. The entrance and exit of the PKP area will be closed, with entry controlled by the PDRM.
• No crossing of state and district boundaries is allowed (based on district boundaries set by the State Government). 
• The number of passengers in a private vehicle is according to the capacity of the vehicle to obtain health care or medical services, obtain food supplies, medicine, dietary supplements, basic necessities and daily necessities in the same district as his residence or the district nearest to his residence if such supplies are not available in the area. 
• The number of people allowed in the vehicle carrying goods as well as the chain of economic/industrial activities depends on the registration licence.
• The movement of private vehicles, government departments or private companies, for the purpose of going to and from work or carrying out official government business, depends on the seating capacity of the vehicle. 
• Movement for public and private operations and services is dependent on the seating capacity of the vehicle. 
• All pupils/students of educational institutions are allowed to attend educational institutions across PKP/PKPB/PKPP areas according to the school calendar set by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), with confirmation documents from MOE. They must be accompanied by parents/guardians to and from school However, this permission is subject to the risk assessment of the State Health Department and the latest announcement made by MOE.
• The movement of teachers/lecturers/instructors for teaching and learning purposes is allowed in schools/educational institutions, with confirmation from MOE or the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). 
• Matriculation colleges are to operate allowed during the PKP period. Students who are in boarding schools/universities/institutions are allowed to be in boardingschools/universities/institutions and to continue learning in a hybrid manner. 
• International examinations and professional bodies as well as research activities that require laboratory facilities at Institutions of Higher Learning (IPT) areallowed to take place, according to the SOP of the IPT. Movement must be accompanied by confirmation by MOHE or the relevant IPT. 
• Movement for the admission of students to hostels for examination classes set by MOE and MOHE is allowed, with confirmation by these ministries. 
• Students who need to obtain a movement permission letter to cross the state or district to return to campus from the IPT. 
• Repatriation of students living in hostels will be carried out in stages according to the decision of the State Education Department. Movement across districts for this purpose is allowed with a letter of permission from MOE/MOHE/the IPT.
• Movement for the admission of students to hostels for examination classes set by MOE and MOHE is allowed with confirmation by the ministries. 
• Students of hostels/educational institutions who are in the PKPD area are not allowed to return home. 
• Movement in/out of PKP areas for emergency cases such as deaths is allowed,upon obtaining permission from PDRM. 
• Movement in/out of PKP areas for emergencies such as natural disasters is allowed. 
• The movement of disaster/humanitarian aid by NGOs needs to be done with permission from the State Disaster Management Committee or District Disaster Management Committee in the area affected by the disaster, and the aid will be channelled through the Disaster Operations Control Centre in the area. 
• Cross-state permits are allowed for long-distance married couples, upon obtaining permission from PDRM.
• State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament are allowed to cross their respective districts and states during the PKP period for the purpose of official business or visiting areas. 
• The PCA and RGL between Malaysia and Singapore are based on agreed agreements. 
• Movement of short-term business visitors under the approval of the One Stop Centre Initiative for official/business purposes is allowed, after obtaining permission from PDRM. 
• Individuals who need to cross districts and states for the purpose of COVID-19 vaccination at vaccination centre outside the residential district are allowed to do so, by presenting their appointment details on the MySejahtera application, website or SMS. 

Permitted activities 

• Restaurants, shops/food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, street hawkers, food courts/ hawker centres, roadside food stalls/kiosks are allowed to operate between 6.00am to midnight (during the month of Ramadan only). 
• Food selling activities are allowed by take-home, drive-thru or delivery from 6.00am to midnight (during the month of Ramadan only). Dine-in is not allowed during the PKP period.
• Grocery stores and convenience stores are allowed to operate between 6.00am to midnight or according to the licence conditions (whichever is earlier). 
• Hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories can operate for up to 24 hours or according to an operating licence. Pharmacies can operate from 6.00am to 10.00pm. 
• Stores selling daily necessities can operate from 6.00am to 10.00pm. 
• Petrol stations can operate from 6.00am to 10.00pm, except petrol stations on the highway which can operate for up to 24 hours. 
• Daily markets, farmers markets, public markets and weekly markets can operate from 7.00am to 2.00pm. 
• Wholesale markets can operate from 12.00am to 6.00am and 11.00am to 4.00pm. 
• Night markets can operate from 4.00pm to 10.00pm,in compliance with SOPs and supervision of RELA or PBT members. 
• Aidilfitri Bazaar can operate from 4.00pm to 10.00pm, in compliance with SOPs and supervision of RELA or PBT members.
• Ramadan Bazaars can operate from 3.00pm to 8.00pm, in compliance with SOPs and supervision of RELA or PBT members.
• However, the decision to continue or close the operation of Ramadan Bazaars, Aidilfitri Bazaars and night markets is subject to the authority of the State Government through the Local Authority. 
• Clinics and pet food outlets,laundry shops, eyewear shops, car washes, barbershops and salons (barber services only) are allowed to operate from 6.00am to 10.00pm. 
• Self-service laundromats must ensure that employees are on the premises in compliance with the prescribed SOPs. 
• Other activities approved by the Ministry/Agency/Local Authority are allowed to operate from 6.00am to 10.00pm.

Operating and movement permits for public and private services

• All economic and business sectors approved by the relevant Ministries/Agencies can operate during the PKP period. The movement of employees is subject to registration/operating approval letter and employee pass/employer confirmation letter. 
• Employees commuting for government affairs must be accompanied by the employer's confirmation document. 
• The attendance capacity of employees in the public service is based on the Circular/Instruction of the Public Service Department; while for the private sector, it is based on an attendance capacity of 30% for the management group and the number of operational/support employees set by the employer.

Public health protocol

• Licensees and premise owners must ensure control of customers' entry and exit to the premises with a physical distance of one metre.
• Hand sanitisers must be provided at the entrance and used before entering.
• Licensees and premise owners are required to provide the MySejahtera QR code facility and provide a customer attendance registration book. The use of the MySejahtera application is mandatory in areas with wide internet access. Exceptions are given for areas that do not have internet access, especially in rural and remote areas.
• Licensees and premise owners must also ensure that customers check in using MySejahtera, or manually if is no internet coverage.
• For shopping complexes/supermarkets/department stores, customers only need to perform a body temperature scan once at the entrance of the complex and not at every business premise under one complex. Customers with body temperatures above 37.5 degrees Celsius should not be allowed to enter the complex and premises.
• Owners of complexes and premises outside the complex must ensure that only customers with the "Low Risk" status in MySejahtera, are allowed to enter their respective complexes/premises. 
• Apart from the above, the SOPs also state the following:
  • Licensees and premises owners should limit the number of customers on the premises with a physical distance of one metre at a time, and display the maximum number of customers who are on the premises.
  • Employees, suppliers and customers are required to wear face masks properly in accordance with MOH recommendations while on the premises.
  • Ensure good ventilation and ventilation systems in the premises.
  • It is compulsory to wear a face mask especially when in crowded public places, except for the following activities and places:
    • One's own residence, alone and with household members;
    • Hotel rooms/paid accommodation, alone and involving members of the same household
    • Solitary work spaces;
    • Indoor and outdoor sports and recreational activities;
    • One's own vehicles, alone and with household members;
    • Indoor/outdoor public areas and places without other individuals; and
    • While eating and drinking in a public place without any other individuals.

Meetings 

• Face-to-face meetings for government and private agencies, involving the presence of representatives outside of the agencies, are not permitted and must be conducted by video conference.

Religious activities

• Islamic religious activities such as Friday prayers and congregational prayers at mosques/suraus, knowledge gatherings, marriage vows and funerals are permitted according to the ruling of the State Religious Authority.
• Activities in non-Muslim houses of worship are also allowed, with attendance limits set by the Ministry of National Unity.
• Islamic wedding ceremonies (Akad nikah) at the religious department and mosques are permitted, with attendance in accordance with the ruling of the State Religious Authority.
• Registration of marriages for non-Muslims at the National Registration Department (JPN), Houses of Worship and Religious Associations are also permitted, with attendance in accordance with the decision of the JPN.

Day-care centres, childcare centres, nurseries, kindergartens 

• Childcare centres, nurseries and kindergartens are allowed to operate with the operating permission of the relevant Ministry/Agency.
• Parents/guardians who send children to childcare centres are allowed to use vehicles with the number of child passengers, according to the capacity of the vehicle.
• Day-care centres for the disabled (OKU), senior citizens, women and miscellaneous care centres are allowed to operate during the PKP period.

Creative industry

• Recording activities for music, concerts, filming, talks and the likes allowed for indoor recording (studio, restricted within the PKP area only with a minimum number of crew and without an audience, in compliance with the Creative Industry SOP. Indoor busking activities in building premises, cafes, food courts and locations that are not totally open are allowed.

Sports and leisure, social, and other activities

• Sports and recreational activities are subject to the General SOP of the PKP Sports and Recreation Sector, set by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
• Government and private official and informal ceremonies, social ceremonies such as feasts, weddings, engagements, wedding ceremonies, receptions, aqiqah ceremonies, prayers, tahlil, birthday celebrations, birthday celebrations, reunions, retreats and others social gatherings are not allowed.

• Seminars/workshops/courses/training/conferences/ talks/exhibitions and activities related to Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) are not allowed.
• Driving institutes and flight training centres are allowed to operate during the PKP period based on SOPs provided by the Ministry of Transport.
• Fishing activities are also allowed during the PKP period,based on SOPs provided by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.
• Other matters decided by the government from time to time.

Activities on the ‘negative list’ 

• Spa’s and reflexology
• Activities in nightclubs or pubs
• Activities at theme parks, indoor playgrounds, family karaoke and cinemas
• Sports and recreational activities listed as ‘not allowed’ in the General SOP of the Sports and Recreation sector by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
•  Tourism activities outside/into the PKP areas and in the PKPD areas.
• Overseas tourism activities by citizens and domestic tourism activities involving foreign tourists entering Malaysia ,except foreign tourists from countries specified by the Minister.
• Any activity that could result in a large number of people present in a place so as to complicate physical distancing and compliance with the instructions of the Director General of Health. 
• Other matters decided by the government from time to time.

Apart from the above, the MKN has also shared a set of SOPs that apply during the Hari Raya/Aidilfitri period:

Photo / 123RF