The government has announced that it will allow the reopening of almost all economic sectors and business activities from Monday, May 4. Under a new conditional aspect to the movement control order (MCO), which will be known as a CMCO, businesses will be allowed to resume operation subject to conditions and tight standard operating procedures (SOP), prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in a special Labour Day address to the nation earlier today.
He said the decision to introduce the ease restrictions progressively and cautiously – with stringent SOPs in place – has been made following advice from the health ministry. The matter was also discussed at length during Economic Action Council (EAC), National Security Council (NSC) and Cabinet meetings.
He said that the halting of the economy had impacted the nation at great cost financially, with the country losing RM2.4 billion a day since the MCO began on March 18, and total losses so far was estimated at around RM63 billion. If the MCO – which is currently in phase four – goes on for another month, he said the country would lose another RM35 billion.
Muhyiddin said that the government has clear and definite plans to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and tackle the economic crisis with six strategies. Now that the first two, the resolve in controlling the outbreak and the building of economic resilience through the Prihatin economic stimulus package, had been accomplished, he said it was time to move on to the third strategy.
As such, the government is ready to restart the economy. The PM said he is aware that after two months of undergoing the restrictions imposed by the MCO, many are eager to go back to work, and traders are keen to restart their business as livelihoods have been affected.
“At the same time, many are also concerned that if the order is lifted, there is a possibility of a new outbreak. I know you are worried. I am too. We must find a way to balance the need for the economy to recover and the importance to contain Covid-19,” he said.
“We will implement a conditional movement control order (MCO), where most economic and social activities will be allowed. However, activities that involve mass gathering and exposing the public to the risk of being infected with Covid-19 will still not be allowed,” he said.
He said that any element that involves mass gatherings, body contact or where social distancing could not be controlled will not be permitted. Businesses, events and activities that are NOT allowed to open or be held under the CMCO include:
- Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars
- Cinemas
- Karaoke centres
- Night clubs
- Sales events, conferences and exhibitions
- Social gatherings such as kenduris, open houses, mass buka puasa activity as well as concerts and cultural shows
- All religious activities such as processions, Friday prayers and gatherings in mosques and worship houses
Meanwhile, outdoor sports that do not involve physical contact – such as jogging, badminton, cycling and golf- are permitted, but those involving person-to-person contact such as football, rugby and swimming as well as all indoor sports are not. Hair/beauty salons and barber shops will also remain closed, so that bad hair month will just have to continue.
The government is also easing up on restrictions imposed on food outlets. The PM said that restaurants and eateries can open for dine-ins, but establishments must adhere to strict conditions that have been set. These include:
- Establishing a two metre distance between tables
- Maintaining social distancing measures on those seated at the table as well as when lining up at payment counters (with line markers for this purpose)
- Establishments must provide adequate hand-washing liquid at wash basins as well as access to hand sanitisers at payment counters for customers
- Sanitisation of tables to be carried out prior to customers being seated
- Workers must be equipped with face masks and wear them at all times
- Customers’ temperatures must be taken before they enter the premises
- Recording the name and mobile number of the customer as well as the date of visit, the last for contact tracing purposes if needed
Operating times for food establishments during the CMCO is from 5am to 12am, but customers are only permitted on the premises from 7am to 10pm. From a dine-in perspective, it will be interesting to see if social distancing measures can be enforced successfully when it comes to seating arrangements, given the mentality of Malaysians when it comes to such matters.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, mini marts and pharmacies will now be allowed to operate from 8am to 11pm (currently, 8am to 8pm), while the permissible operating hours for vehicle workshops, maintenance and spare parts outlets is 7am to 10pm. Petrol stations, which are currently open from 8am to 8pm, have their operating hours listed as being subject to that defined by state government and local authorities.
Muhyiddin said that people are still advised not to leave home unless necessary, and said that despite the relaxing of restrictions, companies should continue to have their employees work from home if possible. He added that interstate travel is still banned (which means no travel back to hometowns for Hari Raya), and that schools, colleges and universities will remain closed.
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Open too soon, reckless. 3rd wave covid19 soon.
Sula mau raya takpalah, raya amat penting dulu
No choice. But they had done their best with 2 months MCO to stop the spread. If only PH had prevented it from coming in….
Many lazy one will get upset
About time. Kudos to PN gomen for taking the brave steps to stem the tide of COVID19. Better than the spineless previous one that allowed virus free passage into Malaysia.
Warm water & VIP doter breached PKP. Kudos
Good that PN has done all they could to stem the virus but we have to reopen Malaysia now for business or else we will sooner die of hunger because of no jobs and no money.
It doesn’t make any difference if the second wave hits us. The situation will be worse compared to the first one. Just look at Japan for example ok?
Jepunis case was due to Abe unreporting all these while in vain attempt to save Tokyo Olympics. Now that is postponed, u “suddenly” see a jump in reported cases despite Japan intensifying their restrictions. How is that possibru?
Face reality. If continue like this we will afterlife from starvation more than covid19 virus. Starting 2 weeks now become 2 months alredi, man!
I agee with John. No money in pocket how to survive. Like this I rather take my chances with the virus and go back to work.
I hope our hospitals are ready
Malaysia will end up like jepun hit by next big wave of Covid, after ending lockdown early
Either we die of virus or die of hunger when no jobs and no money. Which you choose? Can die of hunger faster than by virus. Better to reopen Malaysia for business now.
Terkejut approach has been a new norm. G should announced this on the 4th May not today. For 3 consecutive off days how to iron out all the SOPs and more important do you think enforcement clear on their scope? The economic resumption should be done on 13th May, so there’s ample one week time for preparation by all parties. Do you see all the health personnels’ faces when they hear this announcement? Tragedy in the making? Even the new pasar cluster has not been flattened.
disini saya bilang telalu awal sih
Rear ended by this “Belakang Mari Government” twice in a day.
First, HP deferment suddenly got interest. Then, office can open starting Monday but school/daycare cannot. How to find a nanny is such short notice, during public holiday and eve of weekends?
so 10km radius still pakai or tak?
Yes I disagree with the seemingly twisted arm approach, and I think we may be in for a jolt. But SOPs by business owners should have been done by week 3 of MCO. We all had dates to go by, the last one was 12 May, so plenty of time to have done this.
But I am keen to see how Monday works out, and what happens on 18 May when the so-called 14 day period ends…
Annouced news only on Friday (1st May is Public Holiday samor), and expecting nation’s economic sectors and businesses resume on next Monday??
What happened to the announced MCO until 12 May 2020? Terlupa? Or miscommunication lagi?
Please give at earlier notice to Rakyat la. We are not talking about Makcik Kiah pisang goreng stall.
MCO in general is still in place. Only certain sectors and businesses are allowed to open. So there is time for them to comply as many had been gradually reopening in stages, I don’t see a problem there.
I repeat, the MCO is still in place. So don’t go rayau-rayau unnecessary yet.
Copy paste: “Muhyiddin said that people are still advised not to leave home unless necessary, and said that despite the relaxing of restrictions, companies should continue to have their employees work from home if possible. He added that interstate travel is still banned (which means no travel back to hometowns for Hari Raya), and that schools, colleges and universities will remain closed.”
Failed at reading kah sis?
i dont care if mco was lifted for work, but cant they give ample time for the people to get ready? 4th May go to work yet, the same date is also for people to travel from kampung back home..also the same date to prepare the office for SOP procedures..now some clients are even calling for meeting at the same date where people have to reorganize their office first
Lol! How much time you need to shave, polish ur shoes, iron ur clothes, take a shower and just get to work? Did MCO made you a slug that you need weeks to do that? Just get off ur butts and get going!
For opening, but there will be an enforcement problem thus people must step-up.
All the chaos in Malaysia, i blame it on Tun M. He is the culprit and he should be off the political scene for eternity.
I sporadically go to work during the MCO as I am in essential services.
I’m going to hate the traffic on May 4th.