KUALA LUMPUR – The government has decided to allow sporting events to be conducted with participation of a set-crowd in stadiums and venues nationwide beginning from April 1.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said states and areas under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) will allow the stadiums or venues to accommodate up to 10% of its respective capacity or 2,000 individuals, whichever is fewer to attend the event.
While states or areas under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), he said will allow the stadiums or venues to accommodate up to 25% of its respective capacity or 8,000 individuals, whichever is fewer to attend the event.
For example, the Shah Alam stadium in Selangor under the present EMCO will only be able to allow 2,000 individuals into its facility, given that its full capacity is at more than 80,000.
The decision paves the way for the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to start the two of its matches under proof of concept to the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) following months of playing behind closed doors.
Among the SOPs he listed include only online sales of tickets; physical distancing between 1.5m to 2m between each spectator; sales operations allowed at existing shops at the stadium venue; and scheduled, coordinated movements of spectators in and out of the stadiums.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri announced the implementation of an EMCO at YTY factory and workers’ hostel in Sitiawan, Perak from tomorrow until April 1.
He said the decision was made after considering the risk assessment of various agencies in the MCO Technical Committee and advice from the Health Ministry (MoH).
“The MoH has confirmed that there has been a sharp increase in cases in this locality, with a high rate of infectivity in the community.
“Until March 14, MoH has carried out 162 screenings and out of that number, 60 positive cases have been recorded,” he said in a press conference today.
Ismail Sabri said that the government had also decided to extend the EMCO at the Henry Gurney school in Telok Mas, Melaka for another 14 days from March 20 to April 1.
“To date, the MoH has conducted 602 screening tests, and out of that number, a total of 27 cases have been recorded. However, the MoH confirmed that there are still 171 screening samples remaining that have not received results,” he added. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021
