KUALA LUMPUR: The operating hours for eateries, petrol stations and grocery stores will soon be extended to midnight, while Melaka, Genting Highlands and Tioman island are set to join Langkawi as new locations for the travel bubble.
The Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet has agreed with all these suggestions and will submit its recommendation to the special task force on management of the pandemic.
In a press conference, senior minister for security Hishammuddin Hussein said the four ministers involved had agreed that these three kinds of outlets be allowed to operate from 6am to midnight. At the moment their operating hours are from 6am to 10pm.
“This will be brought to the special task force on Covid-19 management, headed by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and the recommendations will be made there first before any announcements are made,” he said.
This will be applicable nationwide, except for areas under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO).
The four ministers in the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet are Hishammuddin, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa and finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
Hishammuddin’s press conference in Parliament was also joined by tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri and youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
The two ministers had also joined the Ministerial Quartet’s meeting today to make several proposals for their own sector.
Nancy said Melaka, Genting Highlands and Tioman island have been proposed as the next locations for the travel bubble, after the successful launch in Langkawi, and could open their doors on Oct 1.
She told the press conference that the ministry was still working on the SOPs such as whether travellers need to be swabbed, particularly since it would be hard to keep track of them in large locations like Melaka.
“We have given it two weeks so that these destinations can get ready to resume operations,” she said, adding that they will be allowed to reopen from Oct 1 once it is confirmed they can resume operations.
She added that more destinations would be added to the list later on.
Hishammuddin said the pandemic management task force will also be deciding on the proposal to reopen gyms and bowling alleys, adding that the health ministry had stressed that these premises must meet ventilation guidelines.
He added that Faizal had proposed reopening stadiums to spectators for football matches and other suitable sports, although this was still being discussed.
“Our focus is to reopen sectors in stages and safely. As we head into the endemic phase, more relaxations will be given and I hope the people won’t be complacent but will stay disciplined and practise the SOPs set,” he said.
Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/09/21/plan-to-extend-operating-hours-for-eateries-petrol-stations-on-the-cards/