KUALA LUMPUR – Sports enthusiasts can expect some good news soon, said Khairy Jamaluddin, hours after Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu took a swipe at the health minister over the reopening of cinemas.
Faizal had questioned the decision to relax certain standard operating procedures (SOPs), but not allow gyms to reopen or certain sports activities to restart for Phase 1 states.
“Cinemas opened? Gyms and outdoor sports? Please, YB Khairy, there needs to be wisdom in our decisions,” he had told his cabinet colleague.
On Twitter, Khairy said Faizal’s request for outdoor team sports to be allowed to resume is reasonable.
“The Youth and Sports Minister is concerned about the sports sector. This has been discussed in the just-concluded Covid-19 National Security Council (NSC) session today. Good news will be announced soon,” Khairy tweeted.
Permintaan @PejaOfPerak untuk ‘outdoor team sports’ adalah wajar. Menteri KBS memang prihatin terhadap sektor sukan. Tadi dibincang & diputuskan di sidang MKN COVID-19. Berita yang baik akan diumumkan.
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) September 8, 2021
He added that for gyms, the Health Ministry will be jointly developing ventilation guidelines with the NSC that will need to be adhered to.
“This will not take long but because of the nature of indoor fitness centres, we must stress on certain ventilation requirements. Working on it urgently.”
For gyms, @KKMPutrajaya will be jointly developing some ventilation guidelines with MKN that need to be adhered to. This will not take long but because of the nature of indoor fitness centres, we must stress on certain ventilation requirements. Working on it urgently.
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) September 8, 2021
It has been reported that sports sectors could be allowed to reopen with strict SOPs in place as many business operators in the industry are at their wit’s end.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced SOP relaxations for the creative industry, including the reopening of cinemas, with restrictions starting tomorrow.
However, cinemas can resume operations only at 50% capacity for customers who are fully vaccinated.
Under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan, only fully vaccinated individuals can partake in recreational and sporting activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, cycling, golfing, and singles badminton and table tennis.
On August 23, the Gymnasium Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia said their appeals to reopen gyms for the fully vaccinated to the government were rejected because they operate indoor premises. – The Vibes, September 8, 2021
