NSC and KBS will upload relevant SOPs as reference for the operators in due time

by HARIZAH KAMEL/ pic by ARIF KARTONO

COMMERCIAL field operators, futsal court operators, sports facilities and academies will restart operations starting tomorrow.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made after examining Youth and Sports (KBS) Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican’s presentation on the proposal for the reopening of sports and recreation phases 3 and 4.

“Organising non-contact and individual sports competitions including motorcycle and car racing at the Sepang International Circuit and other local circuits, badminton, tennis, gymnastics, diving and chess will be allowed starting Wednesday July 15,” he told reporters in Putrajaya last week.

However, he stressed that no spectators are allowed.

Ismail Sabri said contact sports activities such as football, rugby, basketball, sepak takraw, martial arts and more would be allowed from that date too.

“The implementation of sports activities and tournaments needs to be held in a controlled environment by the premise operators and event organisers,” he said.

The National Security Council (NSC) and KBS will upload the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reference in due time.

Furthermore, Ismail Sabri said the tournaments are strictly limited to local events and do not involve any mass gathering of participants, adding that international events involving participants from abroad are not allowed at this time.

Similarly, family entertainment centres including game arcades, indoor funfairs, edutainment, children’s gym and family-oriented karaoke centres are also allowed to reopen.

Ismail Sabri said the special ministerial meeting for MCO implementation made the decision after reviewing Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri’s proposal presentation.

“The decision was made after taking into account more than 3,000 workers involved as well as the sector’s contribution (RM500 million) to the national income,” he said.

He added that karaoke at weddings is also allowed as the ceremony would not be very lively without it. However, pubs and nightclubs are still not allowed to reopen.

Among the general SOPs that have been set are the use of the MySejahtera app, body temperature checks, the limitation on the number of visitors based on the size of the premises and social distancing, selling tickets online and scheduled cleaning and disinfection.