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PUTRAJAYA: Friday guidelines and congregational prayers in mosques in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic will be discussed first by the Cabinet before any announcement is made, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“The matter should also be referred to the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“This is a great decision and it involves religion. So, wait for the Cabinet to make the decision.
“Insyallah (God willing), the announcement (about the guidelines) will be made by the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Datuk Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri,” he said yesterday at his briefing.
Ismail said this when asked about the outcome of the special meeting of the Consultative Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs on the matter on Friday.
In schools, he said, even though they were still closed, some teachers might be forced to go to work.
“It may be necessary for teachers to prepare issues related to teaching,” he said.
In previously published Ministry of Education frequently asked questions, it was stated that the reopening date of schools would be announced at least two weeks before school resumes.
On daycare protocols and social distancing challenges in such settings, Ismail said the Ministry of Development for Women, Family and Community will issue the standard operating procedure based on the advice of the Ministry of Health.
So far, he said, a poultry processing factory in Negri Sembilan, a supermarket and a construction site in Ampang had been closed after Covid-19 cases were detected at the sites.
A worker at the poultry processing factory tested positive for Covid-19. The case is known to be linked to the Pedas cluster.
“The supermarket was ordered closed after a security guard tested positive for Covid-19,” Ismail said.
The construction site in Ampang was also ordered closed after a worker tested positive.
“If a worker tests positive and the Ministry of Health considers that it is necessary to close operations, then the government will order the closure of the facilities.
“We closed the supermarket and the poultry factory to carry out screening and disinfection tests,” he said.
On another matter, he said hotel operators had the right to take action against guests who trashed hotel property after they were quarantined at hotels designated as quarantine centers.
“If those in quarantine violate hotel regulations, it is up to the hotel management (to take action),” he said.
Previously, Ismail announced that the Covid-19 Fund had attracted contributions worth approximately RM40mil.
He said RM100 per day would be paid to eligible Covid-19 patients and contacts during the quarantine period.
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