By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
SHAH ALAM, April 3 — Ramadan bazaars will not be held across the country as long as the movement order control (MCO) is in place.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said even after the order has been lifted, the decision to allow the event to proceed would be decided later.
“The special task force has decided that as long as the MCO is enforced, Ramadan bazaar cannot proceed.
“However, if the MCO has ended, the National Security Council (NSC) will come up with an SOP (standard operating procedure) after the order period ends,” Ismail said during a televised press conference, after chairing the special task force meeting in Putrajaya today.
Ismail, who is also the Defence Minister, said the decision will only be made “post-MCO”.
“We will see if it can proceed with certain guidelines in place. But as long as the MCO continues, Ramadan bazaars cannot be held,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Selangor government had called-off Ramadan bazaars held in the state.
Several Malaysian states have cancelled the event as well, including Kedah, Terengganu, and Melaka.
Ismail had on Tuesday urged the people to continue complying with the government’s instructions to avoid an extension of the MCO, which ends on April 14.
This fasting month is expected to begin on April 23 and will end on May 23.
