KUALA LUMPUR – The decision to delay the remaining Malaysia Cup matches comes as football is under the restricted “negative list”, says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.
He said this was due to the Health Ministry’s recommendation to the National Security Council during the transition from MCO to CMCO in May this year.
He said there was an appeal from the Malaysian Football League to allow the tournament to continue but it was turned down.
“There is no physical distancing. When playing football, surely there will be contact among players. The players will be sweating,” he said.
“The players will be travelling interstate. How are players going to play if they are going to use face masks or shields?
“All these are dangerous when Covid-19 still exists among the communities,” he said in reply to a question from a reporter in his daily briefing today.
In questioning the minister, the reporter had drawn a comparison with the authorities’ decision not to cancel the entertainment programme "Bintang Popular".
Ismail clarified that the creative industry was not listed as negative and did not entail banned activity.
He said there was no issue as long as the event is done without crowded audience and all health standard operating procedures – such as physical distancing, rules on foreigners and use of face masks – are observed.
“Police and NSC officers would also have to be there to monitor and take action if there is any violation of the health standard operating procedures,” said Ismail, adding that the event can be cancelled if the restricted list is revised.
Ismail also said that the NSC has already ordered authorities to track down and detain some 400 residents of Medan 88, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, who were officially declared missing by the Sepang Disaster Management Committee earlier today.
Yesterday, Ismail had announced an enhanced movement control order in Medan 88 from today till Nov 25, involving 88 units of shop lots, 284 premises and 800 residents.
He said tracking the individuals who were believed to have run away from the district would not be hard as they were transported by their employers.
“The workers were driven out in buses by their employers. This will make it easier for the police to track them down by looking for their employers,” he said.
He said action will be taken on both the workers and employers for violating standard operating procedures.
On another matter, Ismail Sabri said Malaysians who relied on foreign domestic helpers to care for the elderly or the disabled at home can now apply for the MyTravel Pass with the Immigration Department.
He said however that approvals will be subject to the department’s discretion.
He also said the foreign domestic helpers need to undergo the standard operating procedures such as swab tests and the 14-day quarantine at home upon arrival in Malaysia before they are allowed to return to work.
Ismail said today marks the 240th day the country has been in lockdown.
He said the EMCO implemented in three localities in Sabah’s Kudat district, namely Kg Pengaraban, Kg Tanjung Kapur and Kg Landong Ayang will be extended from November 13 to November 26.
He noted that after the 14 days of EMCO from October 20 to November 12, healthcare workers found there were still active cases in the three villages after screening over 15,000 residents.
“There are also samples still awaiting results. Based on this evaluation, the Health Ministry has recommended that the EMCO be extended for 14 more days,” he said. – The Vibes, November 12, 2020
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