Just recently, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob made an announcement that states currently under the Movement Control Order (MCO) will enter the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on 5th March.
Those states involved will soon join Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Sarawak. Other states in the country like Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu, Putrajaya, and Labuan will switch to the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Ismail however, mentioned that inter-district travel will be permitted in all states except Sabah from 5th March, no matter which order is in operation. Inter-state travel still remains closed across the country.
At this point, the meaning behind CMCO and RMCO has proven to be quite difficult for people to understand. So what is the primary difference between the two in regards to businesses and social activities?
For people wanting a better explanation of the whole situation, here is a summary according to available information:
- Events, live performances, and shows including music, comedy shows, cultural events, performing arts, acting, and live streaming events in huge venues are all permitted, only under the condition that they hold them without any live audience.
- Management team and artists, basically crew members are only allowed to carry on their duties at 70% capacity for areas under the CMCO. For those in RMCO areas, they are allowed to operate at full capacity.
- Busking is currently allowed in certain areas like malls, cafes, and food courts.
- Zoos, aquariums, farms, recreational and nature parks, edutainment centres, and museums, art galleries, and cultural performance halls can be under operation.
- Cosmetic beauty treatment places such as manicures and pedicures and also spas, as well as wellness centres, can only operate between 6am and midnight.
- Under the Tourism and Cultural Sector SOPs, other tourism and cultural activities are subject to those rules which are currently in full effect.
- Certain individual/ team sports, recreational activities involving health, fitness, training for matches and tournaments, and local competitions can be carried out but without a live audience.
- Local and international tournaments, as well as competitions, are subject to the approval of the Ministry of Youth and Sport.
- All informal and formal social activities including weddings and engagements, birthday parties, family gatherings, and reunions are permitted under the CMCO and RMCO.
- In CMCO areas, guest limits are only at 50% of the capacity of the location of the event. For RMCO areas, the accommodation of guests is dependable on the size of their premises.
- CMCO and RMCO localities are open and allowed for seminars, workshops, training courses and exercises, meetings and trade exhibitions.
- In CMCO areas, there is up to 50% of capacity for attendance. RMCO areas are given permission to host a group of people following what their floor space allows, as long as physical distancing is carried out.
- Doesn’t matter which order is in effect, social distancing is compulsory in all sectors mentioned above.
Check out the full list of SOPs here.
