The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), which came into effect today, has been gazetted, meaning that all regulations under the previous Movement Control Order (MCO) are now null and void.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this means that all quarters nationwide, whether states or districts, are subject to the standard operating procedures (SOP) as gazetted under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), which is still in effect.
He said once the CMCO, also known as the MCO Phase 5 (MCO5), is gazetted, it effectively renders the previous MCO null and void as the gazette contains a starting and end date.
“If some people still wish to follow the regulations under MCO4, then they are in the wrong, as it has been replaced by MCO5.
“Now, all states are subject to MCO5. I hope those (in the states) realise this and will adhere to the MCO5,” he told a daily press briefing on the Covid-19 situation today.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had last week unveiled the CMCO, which aims to restart the economic sector following the MCO. Under the CMCO, businesses such as restaurants would be able to resume operations, subject to conditions.
Several states, however, have opted against adopting the CMCO, arguing that their unique situations, such as having unresolved Covid-19 clusters, mean that it is still unsafe for economic activity to resume.
Penang, for example, announced the implementation of its own Penang Gradual Recovery Strategy (PGRS), which will see sectors of the economy reopen in stages from May 8 to 13.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri, who is Defence Minister, said there appears to be confusion among some who believe that Act 342 is no longer in force once the CMCO came into effect.
“The punishment is the same; a RM1,000 compound or six months’ jail or both. As such, the status is the same even though the name has changed.”
The minister also cautioned that business owners who fail to comply with the SOP can face the same action and have their premises shuttered.
“I would like to remind everyone that all the regulations are gazetted and once this is done, the previous regulations are revoked.
“For example, under the MCO Phase 4 gazette, only two people could travel in a single vehicle. But when the CMCO was implemented, the gazette states that four people are allowed per car. This means that the previous regulation has been rescinded and we are now following a new one,” he said.
He said the area of focus for the police, armed forces as well as other enforcement agencies during the CMCO, will be on compliance with the SOP.
“I hope this is understood and adhered to by everyone,” he said. – NST
Earlier reports:
May 3, Ismail Sabri: States Free to Adjust to CMCO