KUALA LUMPUR – Permission for interstate travel is not part of the trimmed standard operating procedures (SOP) of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
He said the decision on matters related to interstate travel needed to be scrutinised by the Special Committee on Pandemic Management chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“Interstate travel is related to the phases of the NRP. However, recommendations will come from ministers responsible for specific sectors, which will then be considered at various levels, including the Special Committee on Pandemic Management as well as the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting.”
He said this in a press conference after observing the back-to-school caccination programme at SMK Desa Tun Hussein Onn here today, alongside Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin.
Last week, Hishammuddin announced that the government was in the midst of trimming NRP SOPs from 181 to only 10 so that they can be easily understood by the public.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the second Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting involving Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and himself will be held tomorrow.
“The meeting will focus on efforts to simplify 181 SOPs to only 10 as well as the narrative in gearing towards the endemic phase, which will begin at the end of October,” he said.
He added that Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has been invited to attend tomorrow’s meeting to give a briefing on the status of the Langkawi tourism bubble pilot project and the potential of other travel bubbles.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu will also brief the meeting on possible relaxations in the sports sector, he added.
Hishammuddin said next week, Radzi is scheduled to give a briefing on the vaccination roll-out among students and the latest developments in the reopening of schools in stages beginning October 3. – Bernama, September 20, 2021
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