PETALING JAYA: Ramadan bazaars in Kuala Lumpur will be allowed to continue operating under the movement control order (MCO), says federal territories minister Annuar Musa.
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Speaking at a press conference today, Annuar announced that the permitted business hours are 3pm to 8pm daily, up until Hari Raya begins.
Aidilfitri bazaars will also be allowed to operate from 10am to 10pm daily.
Annuar said the decision was made after considering that there were only a few days left until the end of Ramadan.
It also comes after bazaar traders submitted requests to continue their businesses, as long as there were no positive cases in the area and everyone complied with the SOPs.
“However, if data from the HIDE (Hotspot Identification by Dynamic Engagement) system shows too many positive cases or close contacts in the area, we will instruct the bazaars to close,” he added.
Annuar urged bazaar operators to be more vigilant in monitoring SOP compliance among bazaar patrons.
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Stalls are recommended to have no more than three customers at any one time, while patrons should spend a maximum of 45 minutes at the bazaar.
“I also urge people not to take their young children and babies to the bazaars as we don’t want this vulnerable group to get infected.”
Annuar said the health ministry had forwarded a list of supermarkets and shopping malls that were potential Covid-19 hotspots, as these places were visited by some 700 close contacts.
He planned to discuss this in a meeting with the federal territories’ crisis management centre and National Security Council (MKN) tomorrow, after which further action might be taken against the affected premises.
Meanwhile, in Johor, Ramadan bazaars in the three districts placed under the MCO from tomorrow will also continue to operate as usual, but Aidilfitri bazaars will have to close earlier.
State housing and local government committee chairman Ayub Jamil said the bazaars in Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi and Kulai would be allowed to operate from 3pm to 8pm, while Aidilfitri bazaars may open from 10am to 10pm.
“Ramadan bazaars in the rest of the state, which remains under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), will continue to operate from 3pm to 8pm, while Aidilfitri bazaars will stay open from 10am to midnight,” he said in a statement today.-FMT