The Movement Control Order (MCO), which was scheduled to end yesterday, 4 February, has been extended until 18 February
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to fluctuate in the country, the government has decided to extend the MCO with new standard operating procedures (SOPs), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced.
Here are the general SOPs under the MCO:
Permitted activities:
1. Essential services and relevant supply chains.
2. Purchasing essential items or services.
3. Receiving medical treatment.
4. Carrying out official governmental and judicial duties.
Prohibited activities:
1. Interdistrict travel in MCO areas and interstate travel without authorisation from Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
2. Movement in and out of MCO areas without authorisation from PDRM.
Fixed instructions:
1. Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (Movement Control) Regulations 2021.
2. Subject to the ruling issued by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
3. Instruction and rules under the local authority.
4. Other instructions issued from time to time by the Health Director-General.
SOPs regarding movement control:
PDRM is responsible for exercising control over local infected areas with assistance from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Civil Defence Force (CDF), and the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA). Entry and exit routes of MCO areas are closed and controlled by PDRM.
Residents in the MCO area are not allowed to leave their respective homes or residences with the following exceptions:
1. Only two people per household are allowed to go out to acquire essential supplies such as food, medicine, dietary supplements, and other basic necessities not further than 10km radius from their home, or to the nearest place if the items are not available within 10km radius.
2. A maximum of three people including the patient are allowed to go out to obtain healthcare or medical services not further than 10km radius from their home, or to the nearest place if the item or service is not available within 10km radius.
3. Movement of personal, government, or private company vehicles for the purpose of commuting to and fro from work or to carry out official government business depends on the capacity of the vehicle.
4. Married couples living in different states are allowed to cross state borders with authorisation from PDRM.
5. Students and candidates sitting for the following exams are allowed to cross areas under MCO, Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), or Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) for the purpose of preparing and sitting for their examinations according to the academic calendar prescribed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) with an authorisation letter issued by MOE. One guardian is allowed to accompany the student/candidate:
– Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examination for the year 2020 and 2021
– Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM)
– Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM)
– Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM)
– Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM)
– Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM)
– Assessment for the admission to Sekolah Khusus for Form 1 and Form 4 students
6. Matriculation colleges are allowed to operate during the MCO period. Students are allowed to be at their boarding schools, universities, and institutions, and continue hybrid learning.
7. International examinations, professional bodies, as well as research activities that require laboratory facilities at Institutions of Higher Learning (IPTs) are permitted, in compliance with SOPs of the relevant IPTs. Movement requires an authorisation letter from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) or the relevant IPT.
8. Movement of lecturers, teachers, and instructors involved in providing lessons for the preparation or to conduct an examination is permitted with an authorisation letter from MOE or MOHE.
9. Movement for the admission of students to their dormitories for the attendance of examination classes set by the MOE and MOHE are permitted with an authorisation letter from MOE and MOHE.
10. Students who need to return to campus must acquire an authorisation letter from their IPT for interstate or interdistrict travel.
11. Movement in and out of MCO areas for emergency cases such as death is permitted after obtaining authorisation from PDRM.
12. Movement in and out of MCO areas for emergency cases such as natural disasters is permitted.
13. Movement for the purpose of disaster relief or humanitarian aid by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) require PDRM authorisation and the assistance will be channelled through the Disaster Operation Controlling Center (PKOB) in the area.
14. Members of the State Legislative Assembly and members of the Parliament are allowed to travel interdistrict and interstate for visits as well as to attend to official government matters.
15. Movement in and out of Sabah within the MCO period is subject to MCO SOPs for the entire state of Sabah.
16. Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) and Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) between Malaysia and Singapore will proceed according to previous agreement.
SOPs regarding essential services:
All activities except for those listed as essential services are not allowed to be carried out.
1. Restaurants, including those in pubs and night clubs, hawker stalls, food trucks, food courts, and food kiosks are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.
2. Purchase of food is only permitted through takeaway, drive-through or delivery starting from 6am to 10pm.
3. Sundry shops and convenience stores are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.
4. Hospitals, clinics, and medical labs are allowed to operate for 24 hours or according to their operating licence.
5. Pharmacies are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.
6. Stores selling essential items are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.
7. Gas stations are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm except for those on the highway which are allowed to operate for 24 hours.
8. Daily markets, farmers’ markets, public markets, and weekend markets are allowed to operate from 7am to 2pm.
9. Night markets are allowed to operate from 4pm to 10pm in accordance to SOP and with supervision from RELA or local authorities.
10. Wholesale markets are allowed to operate from 12am to 6am and 11am to 4pm.
11. Veterinaries and pet shops are allowed to operate from 6pm to 10pm.
12. Laundromats, optometrists, car washes, barbers, and hair salons are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm.
13. Self-service laundromats have to ensure that an employee is present at the premise in accordance to SOPs.
SOPs regarding permission to operate and travel for essential services:
1. All sectors mentioned in the list of essential services registered with the relevant Ministry or agencies are allowed to operate during the MCO period. Employee movement is subject to registration or operating authorisation letter and employment pass or employer authorisation letter.
2. Movement of government employees for official government duties must be accompanied by an employer authorisation letter.
3. Staff attendance capacity for essential services must be limited to only staff members who need to be physically present at the workplace to perform their duties. Other types of employees should be able to work from home. (Employers are responsible for categorising their staff to reduce the number of people in the workplace to only those which are necessary).
SOPs regarding general health protocols:
1. Licence holders and premise owners have to control the movement of customers in and out of a premise with 1m physical distancing.
2. Licence holders and premise owners must provide a MySejahtera QR code and registration book for customers.
3. Licence holders and premise owners must ensure that customers check in at the premise using MySejahtera or by manually writing down their name and phone number, as well as have their temperature taken. Body temperatures above 37.5°C must not be allowed inside a premise. Premise owners must ensure that only those with the ‘Low Risk’ status on MySejahtera are allowed in the premise.
4. Licence holders and premise owners must limit the number of customers in a premise at a time while practising 1m physical distancing and they must display the number of customers present in the premise.
5. Employees, suppliers, and customers must wear face masks correctly in accordance with MOE’s guidelines while in a premise.
6. It is mandatory to wear a face mask especially in crowded public areas except for the following places and activities:
– In your own home with family members
– In your personal working space
– During indoor or outdoor sports and recreational activities
– In your personal vehicle with family members
– Indoor and outdoor areas without any other individuals
– While eating and drinking in public without other individuals
SOPs regarding meetings:
Physical meetings involving government and private agencies involving representatives of foreign agencies are not allowed and must be conducted via online.
SOPs regarding activities at places of worship:
1. A total of five committee members are allowed at places of worship for the purpose of management.
2. Friday prayers at places of worship in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan are allowed with a maximum of 30 people at a time.
3. Friday prayers in other states are subject to the State Government and State Islamic Religious Authority.
SOPs regarding recreational activities:
1. Jogging is allowed in groups of not more than two people and within the neighbourhood area.
2. Cycling in groups is not allowed. Cycling by oneself is allowed but should not exceed a distance of 10km from your home.
3. Existing centralised training programs carried out by the National Sports Council and the state Department of Youth and Sports may continue through a quarantine-based approach.
SOPs regarding childcare centres and kindergartens:
1. Childcare centres and kindergartens are allowed to operate with the approval of relevant ministries and agencies.
2. Parents and guardians sending their children to childcare centres in vehicles are allowed to transport the number of child passengers according to the vehicle’s capacity.
3. Care centres for the disabled, elderly, women, and more are allowed to operate during the MCO period.
SOPs regarding social events:
1. Official and unofficial government and private events, social events such as weddings receptions, engagement ceremonies, birthday parties, reunion parties, retreats, and other social events are not allowed.
2. Seminars, workshops, courses, training, conferences, lectures, and exhibitions, as well as other activities under Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE), are not allowed.
3. All sports activities except for jogging and cycling as detailed in this list are not allowed.
4. Sports competitions and tournaments are not allowed.
5. Tourism activities in and out of MCO or CMCO areas are not allowed.
List of essential services according to sectors:
Only 30% of management staff are allowed to be present at the workplace. Meanwhile, the total number of employees present can be set by the employer as long as physical distancing and public health protocols can be implemented at the workplace.
Manufacturing
1. Aerospace component as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
2. Automotive vehicles and components.
3. Food, beverages, and their chains of economic activities.
4. Packaging and printing.
5. Household products, personal care products, cleaning materials and their chain of economic activities.
6. Healthcare and medical care products, including dietary supplements.
7. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and fire safety equipment.
8. Components for medical devices.
9. Electrical and electronics goods.
10. Oil and gas.
11. Petrochemical products.
12. Chemical products.
13. Machinery and equipment.
14. Ceramics moulds for the production of hand gloves.
15. Iron and steel.
16. Textiles involving the production of PPE only.
17. Furniture.
18. Production, distillation, storage, supply, and distribution of fuel and lubricants.
Construction
1. Critical maintenance and repair work.
2. Major public infrastructure construction works.
3. Building construction works that provide complete workers accommodations on construction sites or Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ).
Services
1. Automotive improvement and services only.
2. Financial services and its chain of economic activities:
– Financial institutions (banking, insurance, takaful, bursa, and other institutions licensed, approved, or registered with Bank Negara Malaysia)
– Capital market entities licensed, registered, or regulated by Securities Commission Malaysia.
3. Municipal council and local government services:
– Pawnbroker and community credit facilities (licensed moneylender companies).
– Solid waste and sewerage management.
– Public cleansing.
– Cleaning and sanitisation of premises
4. Communication including Internet services, postage and couriers, and broadcasting.
5. Telecommunications and digital infrastructures including global business services and call centres.
6. E-commerce services and its economic activity chain, including e-marketplace, digital payment, and local e-commerce Internet centre.
7. Hotel and lodging.
8. Agricultural, fishery and husbandry and veterinary services including:
– Farm management, swiftlet bird’s nest, horse farm, animal processing plant, slaughterhouse, livestock, livestock food factories, suppliers of vaccines, livestock management, and pet shop management. Livestock transportation operations are during nighttime.
– Control of diseases and regulation of livestock production, regulation of livestock input and livestock industry related products, including import and export.
– Animal health management, disease diagnosis, and medical care.9. Utilities such as water and energy.
10. Professional services including accountants, lawyers, auditors, engineers, architects, scientific services including research and development, and technical services including maintenance services.
11. Security services.
12. Safety and defence.
13. Land, water, and air transport.
14. Port, dock, and airport services and undertakings, including stevedoring and transferring of cargo, pilotage, storing or bulking commodity.
Supply and Distribution
1. Warehousing and Logistics.
2. Sale or delivery of food and beverages.
3. Sale or delivery of retail, distribution, wholesale items and its chain of services:
– Shopping malls, supermarkets, departmental stores. Only for stores that sell food, daily necessities, childcare necessities, medical items, electronics, and items relating to protection against COVID-19.
– Pharmacies, personal care, mini-marts, laundrymats, restaurants, optometrists, telephone stores, furniture stores, gold stores, electric and electronic stores, bookstores and stationery stores, hardware stores, pet food stores, vehicle workshops, maintenance and spare parts, car sellers and distributors, gas stations, stores selling prayer and funeral items, car wash, barbers, and hair salons.
– Online purchases are encouraged.
Farming and Commodities
1. Agriculture, fisheries, and husbandry and its chain of economic activity.
2. Plantations and commodities and its chain of economic activity.
Others
Any service, work, industry, and business as determined by the Health Minister after consulting with the authorities that regulate said activities.