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KINIGUIDE | A new phase of the conditional motion control order (MCO) went into effect yesterday, with more relaxed rules, even for interstate travel.
Despite this, there are still restrictions for areas under the conditional MCO.
This article is based on the guidelines issued by the National Security Council (NSC) on December 7 and on the statements of Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on December 5.
Click here for a list of states and areas under conditional MCO.
Can I get out of my house?
Yes. Travel from one conditional MCO area to another, or to a recovery MCO area is permitted.
There are also no restrictions on traveling from a red zone to a green zone or vice versa.
Effectively, this means interdistrict and interstate travel is allowed.
Travel is only restricted to and from MCO enhanced areas as it is only allowed with permission from the police for emergencies such as medical treatment or death.
Those going to Sabah must take a Covid-19 test three days before entry. Those without symptoms and with a negative result may enter.
How many people can be in my car?
There is no more passenger limit for private vehicles. The number of passengers will depend on the capacity of the vehicle.
For example, a five-seater car can hold five passengers and a seven-seater minivan can hold seven passengers.
What about taxis, e-hailing, buses and other public transportation?
According to the NSC, public transportation can operate based on the capacity of the vehicle.
Hours of operation are based on license terms.
Can I have a work meeting?
Meetings for work or official purposes are allowed in offices, hotels or other institutions, with the practice of social distancing measures.
Face masks must be worn and the meeting room must not exceed 50 percent of its capacity.
What about conferences and training?
Conferences, seminars, training workshops, talks and exhibitions can only be held in green areas.
Continuous service training can only be carried out in training institutes.
Can I send my children to school or daycare?
Schools, colleges and universities remain closed, except for students taking international exams.
However, tuition, music, dance, art, Quran recital and language classes can operate individually, for green areas under the conditional OLS.
Child care centers, nurseries and kindergartens may also operate with the permission of the authorities.
Can I go shopping? What time do companies close?
Yes. Grocery stores, shopping malls, retail stores, restaurants, laundries, and other businesses for daily needs can operate from 6 am to midnight.
Similarly, daily markets, wholesale markets, farmers markets, and night markets can operate within license / permit times until midnight, with compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the supervision of the authorities, local governments and the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela).
Gas stations can also be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, except for those on the roads, which can operate 24 hours a day.
Pharmacies will be open from 8 in the morning until midnight.
Clinics and hospitals will continue to operate for 24 hours.
For Sabah, businesses, shopping malls, grocery stores, markets, pharmacies and gas stations close at 10 pm Restaurants can close at midnight.
What are the rules for dining at home?
The guidelines no longer set a table limit, except in Sabah.
For Sabah, the tables are only able to accommodate half the capacity. For example, a table for four can only seat two, and a table for eight can only seat four.
For other states, the guideline only says there should be a social distance of 1 meter between customers based on table size.
The pubs remain closed.
If I want to order food at home, when can I do it?
Food delivery can be done from 6 am to midnight.
Can I do sports?
Indoor and outdoor sports are allowed without physical contact.
There should be a social distance of 1-3m for static activities and a distance of 3-5m for dynamic activities.
Public sports facilities can operate at 50 percent of their capacity.
Contact sports are not allowed.
I can go to the cinema?
Cinemas, theme parks and covered play areas can only operate in green areas.
Concerts and live events with public are not allowed.
The discos are also closed.
I have a wedding to attend, can I go?
Social gatherings such as weddings, banquets, engagement ceremonies, anniversaries, birthday parties, reunions, or retreats are not allowed.
However, the solemnization of the Muslim marriage (marriage contract) ceremonies are allowed in Islamic Department offices, with up to 30 guests or within limits set by state religious authorities.
Marriage solemnization ceremonies for non-Muslims are also allowed in places of worship, association buildings, or in the National Registration Department with up to 30 guests depending on available space and social distancing.
Can I pray in a place of worship?
Activities in mosques and surau are allowed with limits set by the respective Islamic state bodies.
Non-Muslim houses of worship can also be opened with limits set by the Ministry of Health, NSC or the state government.
What happens if I break the MCO conditional rules?
Violation of the 2020 Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Regulations can result in a fine of RM 1,000, up to six months in prison, or both.
Worse still, if you obstruct a public official who is enforcing the conditional MCO, you can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to RM10,000 or both under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
Public officials are not just limited to the police and include public officials from various agencies, including local council officials.
Why have the OLS conditional rules been relaxed?
The government has cited economic reasons for relaxing the conditional MCO.
Putrajaya said that if the conditional MCO continues to apply and in as many states as before, it would result in GDP losses of up to RM300 million per day.
This KiniGuide installment was compiled by Zikri Kamarulzaman.
