By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, May 5 — All Ramadan bazaars operating in the six districts under the movement control order (MCO) in Selangor are ordered to close starting Saturday (May 8), says Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the decision will affect 11,000 traders registered with the local councils in the state.
“Considering the hardships the traders will face, we will give time for the operators and traders to make the necessary preparations as well as clear their stock.
“We had also taken into account that they have been operating for 25 days (during Ramadan) until Friday in making this decision,” he said during a special press conference on the reinstatement of the MCO in six districts in Selangor broadcast live on Facebook today.
Amirudin said the state had also decided to allocate more than RM5 million to aid the affected traders who have to cease operations five days earlier before Hari Raya.
“We will give RM500 aid to the 11,000 affected traders registered or licenced under the local councils.
“It will be credited to their bank account after the Raya holidays,” he said, adding that the payment will be made per licence holder of how many stalls they operate.
He said for Aidilfitri bazaars and night markets, traders are allowed to operate during the MCO period until 10pm but subject to strict conditions.
“The number of visitors at any one time is limited to 50 per cent of the capacity, according to the size of the premises, and the queue number system will be enforced. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to enter these bazaars,” he said.
He said that if there are violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs), the authorities would not hesitate to close the bazaar involved.
Apart from that, Amirudin said dining in is not allowed from tomorrow at all eateries and hotels in the six MCO districts, including for Ramadan buffets, and that grocery stores, petrol stations and eateries could operate from 6am to midnight during the MCO period.
Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that six districts in Selangor will be placed under the MCO from May 6 to 17, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases, with Selangor recording the highest number of daily cases from April 20 to May 4.
The six districts are Hulu Langat, Petaling, Gombak, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang while the three remaining districts — Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam and Hulu Selangor — would continue to be under the conditional MCO (CMCO).
Ismail Sabri said that the decision to continue or close the Ramadan bazaars in the MCO areas is subject to the discretion of the state government through the local authorities.
The SOP on the MCO in the six districts can be accessed at the National Security Council (NSC) website at www.mkn.gov.my.
