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PUTRAJAYA: Dealing with nighttime hunger pangs will no longer be a problem, as restaurants and convenience stores can now stay open until 2 a.m.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the National Security Council (MKN) agreed to extend the hours of operation following requests from operators lamenting the lack of revenue.
“There have been complaints, especially in tourist areas like Langkawi. Entertainment is not allowed yet, so all tourists can do is eat. Restaurant owners have requested an extension of their opening hours.
“MKN has agreed to allow food outlets and convenience stores to open until 2 am,” he said yesterday at a press conference here.
Currently, all companies must close at midnight according to the recovery movement control order (MCO).
Ismail Sabri also announced that the Kota Setar district in Kedah and Tawau Prison would be placed under an improved administrative MCO from today until September 25, following an increase in Covid-19 cases.
For Kota Setar, the improved MCO will involve 366,787 residents who will not be allowed to leave the area. Also, people cannot enter the area.
“We will also not allow residents who live in the affected area to go to work.
“There will be no educational, recreational, social and sports activities, as well as religious gatherings in mosques and places of worship,” he said.
The Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam would not see any cross-border activity during the 14-day shutdown, he said.
Apart from the clinics and hospitals that can operate 24 hours, other commercial activities such as restaurants, various stores and service stations can operate from 8 a.m. M. At 8 p. M.
As for the Tawau Prison, the improved MCO will affect inmates, 114 prison officers and 355 family members.
“During this period, there will be no movement in and out of the prison,” said Ismail Sabri, who assured people in Tawau that the cases were confined and the chances of spreading to the community were low.
Ismail Sabri said the rules have been relaxed a bit now to allow in long-term pass holders, including expats from 23 countries that Malaysia had previously banned.
The margin was also intended for holders of professional visit passes, permanent residents, spouses of Malaysian citizens and holders of student passes, he said, adding that all applications must go through the Department of Immigration.
“The stipulated condition for this group is that their trip to Malaysia is one-way and they must stay here,” Ismail Sabri said.
The ban came into effect on September 7 after the high number of Covid-19 cases registered in the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iran, Bangladesh, Great Britain. , Saudi Arabia. Arabia, Pakistan, France, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iraq, the Philippines and Indonesia.
On the other hand, Ismail Sabri, who is also a defense minister, said that the visit of a Chinese delegation led by defense minister Wei Fenghe was carried out under a strict standard operating procedure established by the Health Ministry.
The delegation had to undergo a swab test three days before leaving for Malaysia and another test upon arrival.
“They only left the hotel for the Ministry of Defense to meet with me. Later, they went to Putrajaya to meet with the prime minister, ”Ismail Sabri said when asked if the visit had violated the government’s policy of not allowing foreigners to enter the country.
The minister said the Health Ministry had advised that the visit be kept low-key to avoid overcrowding.
Former Deputy Defense Minister Liew Chin Tong highlighted the lack of local media coverage of Wei’s visit to Malaysia on September 7.
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