Here are some quick updates of what has happened since, and what you can, and cannot do, during the lockdown which is effective until Jan 26.
- Associations representing more than 30,000 food and beverage (F&B) providers have asked the government to allow dine-in customers during the MCO period, as most cannot afford to pay rentals and workers' salaries otherwise. The associations plan to send a memorandum to the prime minister, pleading for the loosening of restrictions.
- Barbers are also lamenting the closure of business. TN Winda Tahir, president of the Malaysian Bumiputera Barbers Association, said the government should instead limit the operating hours of hair salons, or allow haircuts by appointments. According to him, barbers are yet to fully recover from the effects of the first lockdown in March last year.
- Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa has announced that public parks managed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) can be open to the public - just two days after the city hall ordered their closure. Opposition lawmakers had earlier decried the closure, saying it was against the PM's announcement that recretational activities, such as jogging and cycling will be allowed, as long as people followed two-metres distancing from each other.
- The armed forces has been given additional powers under the first ordinance enacted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after the emergency proclamation on Monday. The gazetted Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 stipulates that as long as the emergency is in force, the armed forces “shall have all the powers of a police officer of whatever rank as provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code”. The emergency is in force until Aug 1, or until the COVID-19 situation comes under control.
- Optometry services and optical shops, which were originally barred from operating in areas under MCO, are now allowed to open for business from 6am to 8pm. The same goes for coin-operated laundrettes in MCO areas, provided a staff of the laundrette is present at the premises to ensure that patrons abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP).
- Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said that registration for Covid-19 vaccination for Malaysians will be opened soon, with every citizen set to receive two doses of the vaccine each, for full protection against the virus.
Photo source: Rojakdaily
