Recovery MCO: Permitted and Prohibited Activities – 8 Key Questions

June 17, 2020

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister on 7 June 2020, the conditional movement control order was replaced by the recovery movement control order (RMCO) starting from 10 June 2020 to 31 August 2020.

This alert sets out the activities which are currently permitted and prohibited during the RMCO.

Q1. Can you travel interstate? The Malaysian National Security Council has announced that from 10 June 2020, interstate travel is allowed except for interstate travel to and from areas that are under the enhanced movement control order.

Q2. Can schools be reopened? Schools will be reopened in phases starting from 24 June 2020 for students sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM). On 4 June 2020, the Ministry of Education issued a set of guidelines in relation to the reopening of schools where necessary steps are to be taken by the schools to ensure that the health and wellbeing of students, teachers, staff and visitors are adequately safeguarded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Q3. Can barber shops, hair salons and beauty parlours be opened? The Malaysian National Security Council has announced that from 10 June 2020 onwards, barber shops, hair salons and beauty parlours can resume operations provided that operators and customers follow the stringent standard operation procedures (SOP).

Accordingly, only services such as basic haircuts, hair washing, trimming and shaving of beards and moustaches, hair treatment, manicures, pedicures, facial washing and treatment are allowed.

Q4. Can you organise or take part in public gathering? Pursuant to regulation 6 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No. 7) Regulations 2020 (Regulations), a person may gather or be involved in a gathering including congregate to perform prayers at any place of worship of his religion. However, the gathering is still subject to directions of the Director General of Health (DG).

Q5. What are the activities that are still prohibited during the RMCO? Pursuant to regulation 3 of the Regulations, no person is able to carry out, organize, undertake or otherwise be involved in, any of the following prohibited activity:

(a) Sports event and tournament (b) Contact sports (c) Water theme park and water park activities (d) Swimming pool activities except for the training of national athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 (e) Outbound tour activities by a citizen and inbound tour activities involving foreign tourists entering Malaysia (f) Activities in karaoke centres, children’s playground in shopping malls and family entertainment centres (g) Activities in pubs and night clubs, except restaurant business in pubs and night clubs (h) Fitting of clothes, using fitting rooms in clothes stores, trying on fashion accessories in stores and providing cosmetic testers in stores (i) Reflexology and massage activities in a health and beauty establishment (j) Cruise ship activities (k) Any activity with many people in attendance at a place making it difficult to carry out social distancing and to comply with the directions of the DG.

Q6. Can public transportation operate in full capacity? It was announced on 11 June 2020 by the Senior Minister (Security Cluster) that all public transport services, including flights and express buses, as well as e-hailing services and private vehicles, are now allowed to operate at full capacity while abiding by the SOP.

Q7. Are you required to undergo health examination upon arrival in Malaysia? Pursuant to regulation 8 of the Regulations, any citizen, permanent resident of Malaysia, expatriate or diplomatic corps, or any other foreigner permitted by the Director General of Immigration, entering Malaysia from overseas is required undergo health examination upon arrival in Malaysia before proceeding for immigration clearance at any point of entry and must comply with any direction of an authorized officer.

Should any person be directed to undergo home quarantine, the person is required wear a wristband provided by the authorized officer.

Q8. What are the consequences in the event an offence is committed? Pursuant to regulation 11 of the Regulations, any person who contravenes any provision of the Regulations or any direction of the DG or an authorized officer commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Conclusion With most of the Malaysian workforce now returning to work, the Ministry of Health will continue its surveillance of Covid-19 in Malaysia during the RMCO period. It is crucial that businesses and citizens continue to comply with the SOP imposed to prevent any sudden rise of the Covid-19 cases.