KUALA LUMPUR – Ramadan and Raya bazaars in the capital will remain open during the movement control order (MCO), contrary to the directive in Selangor.
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said Ramadan bazaars will operate from 3pm to 8pm, and Raya ones, from 10am to 10pm.
He told a press conference today that the bazaars can be shut down by local authorities if they are found to have violated the standard operating procedures.
Pasar malam, including the one in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, will remain open while their SOPs are looked into, he added.
Kuala Lumpur’s MCO is in effect from tomorrow until May 20.
Ramadan bazaars in Selangor will be shut starting Saturday, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari yesterday, as six of the state’s nine districts observe the MCO beginning today, for a period of two weeks.
The six districts are Hulu Langat, Petaling, Gombak, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang.
Amirudin told the press today that the decision to bar bazaars from operating only starting Saturday provides time for operators and traders to clear their stock.
“This would mean that by Friday, they would have been operating for 25 days. We are not ‘kejam’ (cruel) to close them (immediately), since they would have operated for 25 days.”
To further assist the 11,000 traders affected, he said the state government will provide each of them with a RM500 cash aid, expected to be given before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
Despite the order closure for Ramadan bazaars, said Amirudin, Raya bazaars and night markets can operate until 10pm at 50% capacity.
Organisers are responsible for ensuring visitors adhere to the SOPs, with violations to result in the premises ordered closed, he said. – The Vibes, May 6, 2021
