Malaysia's latest June 2021 SOPs for PKP Fasa (Phase One)

These updated SOPs will apply nationwide, and include details on work-from-home requirements, employee attendance capacity at the workplace, rules on cross-state travel, and more.

In HRO’s previous coverage (31 May), Malaysia's Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the country will undergo a total lockdown (PKP Fasa) starting 1 June 2021.

For the unacquainted, from 1 to 14 June, it is the period of PKP Fasa: Phase One, the first of three phases of lockdown the nation will undergo. This marks a full closure of social, economic, and manufacturing sectors, and only essential sectors—17 of them—listed by the National Security Council are allowed to operate.

Otherwise, those not listed, such as personal wellness (i.e. spas), entertainment (i.e. nightclubs and cinemas), training institutes, tourist attractions, and sports and recreation are not allowed.

With that in mind, employers can take note of the following PKP Fasa: Phase One’s SOPs for businesses, seminars, and more.

Public sector

• To implement work-from-home (BDR) method completely, excluding frontliners, security, defense, and enforcement services

• Attendance in the office is only allowed for necessary services, and should not exceed 20% at a time based on priority to work processes* that cannot be performed by BDR.

*This includes payment of contracts, invoices, salaries, payment, distribution of monthly periodic assistance to the people, maintenance and security of premises, ICT technical management for the purpose of system maintenance and online meetings, and preparation of documents involving the Cabinet.

• Attendance in the office must be accompanied by official instruction documents and employee pass.

Private sector

• All necessary service sectors approved by the relevant ministry or agency can operate during the PKP period, subjected to the relevant ministry's approval letter effective from 1 June 2021. Movement of employees is subjected to registration, operating approval letter, employee pass, or employer confirmation letter.

• Employee attendance capacity for the private sector should include operations and management personnel, limited to 60%.

Public/private business meetings

• Meetings should be conducted via video conference means.

Seminars, workshops, courses, training and talks

• Physical seminars, workshops, courses, trainings and talks are not allowed unless ongoing in-service training can be implemented in the training area through the Camp Based Training method.

• Online seminars, workshops, courses, trainings and talks are, however, allowed.

Business services

• Restaurants, eateries, food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, street hawkers, food courts, hawker centres, roadside food stalls, or kiosks are allowed to operate between 8.00am to 8.00pm by takeaway, drive or delivery.

• Dine-in and park & dine services are not allowed during the PKP period.

• Picnic activities are not allowed.

• Health services, such as hospitals, clinics and medical laboratories, can operate for up to 24 hours, or according to an operating licence.

• The following business services are only allowed to operate between 8.00am to 8.00pm:

1. Supermarkets, hypermarkets, personal care stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, and minimarts;
2. Daily necessities shops (such as hardware shops, vehicle workshops, baby goods shops and religious goods);
3. Pharmacies;
4. Department stores (restricted to the food, beverages and basic necessities section only);
5. Animal clinics and pet food shops;
6. Laundry shops and laundromats, and
7. Eyewear shops

• Petrol stations can operate from 6.00am to 8.00pm, except petrol stations on toll highways which can operate for up to 24 hours.

Religious activities

• Prayer activities are limited to a maximum of 12 mosque and surau committee members only. Other activities are not allowed.

• Islamic wedding ceremonies (Akad nikah) are allowed only at the Islamic Religious Office with the presence and ruling of the State Religious Authority.

• The management of the burial of the remains of Muslims is allowed in accordance with the ruling of the State Religious Authority.

• House of worship activities, other than Islam, are limited to a maximum of 12 committee members only; the presence of believers is not allowed.

• Registration of marriages for non-Muslims at the National Registration Department (JPN), Houses of Worship and Religious Associations is allowed with attendance according to the decision of JPN.

• Funeral management, other than Muslims, is allowed in accordance with the ruling of the Ministry of National Unity (IGP).

In addition to the aforementioned SOPs, the Malaysian government also highlighted some general Movement Control Order (MCO) SOPs that citizens have to adhere to throughout PKP Fasa: Phase One. Most of which limits the number of heads that leave their homes to complete essential activities.

General SOPs

• No crossing of state and district boundaries (based on district boundaries set by the State Government).

• Movement of short-term business visitors under the approval of the One Stop Center Initiative (OSC) for official or business purposes is allowed after obtaining permission from PDRM.

• Only two household representatives are allowed to go out only to get food supplies, medicine, dietary supplements and basic necessities within a radius not exceeding 10km from his residence.

• A maximum of three persons, including patients, are allowed out to seek health care, medical, screening, safety or emergency services within a radius not exceeding 10km from his residence, or to the nearest place of residence.

• The number of passengers in taxis and e-hailing is limited to two people, including the driver. Passengers must sit at the back.

• The number of persons allowed in the vehicle carrying goods, as well as the chain of economic or industrial activities (except transportation of workers) depends on the vehicle registration license.

• Activities and services at all airports and ports are allowed to operate.

• Sea and land public transport services are allowed to operate based on 50% vehicle capacity. (Operating hours and frequencies subject to the Ministry of Transport’s SOPs.)

• The movement of disaster or humanitarian aid by NGOs requires permission from the State Disaster Management Committee or District Disaster Management Committee in the area affected by the disaster. The aid must be channelled through the Disaster Operations Control Center (PKOB) in the area.

• Movement across districts and states for the purpose of COVID-19 vaccination at Vaccination Centers (PPVs) outside the district, or state of residence is permitted by showing appointment details on the MySejahtera application, website or SMS.

• Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen are allowed across states and districts to visit their respective constituencies without performing any ceremony.

The full set of SOPs on the National Security Council’s website here.

Image/Unsplash

Human Resources Online is on Telegram! Follow us @humanresourcesonline or click here for all the latest weekly HR and manpower news from around the region.