KUALA LUMPUR – The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) will submit an application to the National Security Council (NSC) in the near future to obtain permission and flexibility for caterers to resume operations for small-scale weddings.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said it is estimated that more than 20,000 catering operators nationwide are currently affected because they have to face cancellations of wedding celebrations by customers, besides not receiving bookings during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) and conditional MCO (CMCO).
“Although social celebrations and gatherings cannot be held during the MCO and CMCO to ensure that the government’s efforts in breaking the Covid-19 chain of transmissions are successful, the ministry sees that there is room for catering operators to be allowed to earn a livelihood.
“Among others, (we are seeking) permission (on behalf of caterers) to (operate during) weddings with a capacity limit of 250 people in public locations such as halls by ensuring strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), including physical distancing, wearing face masks, using sanitisers, conducting body temperature checks, registering attendees, and other guidelines set by NSC,” he said after surveying an SOP compliance operation on the trade and distribution sector here today.
However, Rosol said the ministry feels that the permission to hold weddings at home still needs detailed scrutiny due to difficulties in ensuring home wedding ceremonies are in compliance with the strict SOPs.
At the event, he also received a “pledge” from the Association of Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Operators (Presma) to express support and confidence that its members are committed to ensuring the more than 4,500 restaurants operated by it comply with the stringent SOPs. – Bernama, February 25, 2021
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