From 181 Sops To Just 10 Soon

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Hishammuddin Hussein says the new set of SOPs will be streamlined and understood by all. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The government has announced that it will reduce the current number of Covid-19 prevention SOPs from 181 to just 10 in a couple of weeks.
Senior minister for security Hishammuddin Hussein said the new set of SOPs would be streamlined and understood by all.
He said the communications and multimedia ministry has been charged with releasing the SOPs once it is announced.
Hishammuddin said the exact SOPs will be revealed by the prime minister soon.
In the meantime, he estimated that the new set of SOPs would be revealed in two or three weeks’ time.
“It will be a lot easier for all to understand when there are 10 SOPs. We have been working on SOPs for so long, one and half years now, I hope it can be done so as to make it easier for all,” he said.
Separately, Hishammuddin said a committee chaired by the prime minister earlier had agreed in principle to the loosening of SOPs and opening up of more sectors in the future.
He said the decision to open more social and economic sectors took into account the people’s fatigue following over a year of movement controls.
Hishamuddin said such a situation could not go on longer as it risked taking a toll on mental health.
He said the committee also discussed the shift to a Covid-19 endemic phase, set for the end of October. No further details were given.
On the Langkawi travel bubble, which is set to open to fully vaccinated people on Sept 16, Hishammuddin said it would be a pilot project closely watched by the government to see whether cross-state travel would be allowed in the future.
He said the travel bubble to the duty-free island was allowed in consideration of the wellbeing of the people, not the economy per se.
“The mood of people has changed (since the bubble was announced). Those going to Langkawi must be disciplined. If this fails, we will not open other bubbles, I will not allow it,” he said.
Hishammuddin said the success of the bubble would be determined by a few factors, including infections and contact tracing of those going in and out of the island.
He said the tourism minister had been charged with proving to the government that the travel bubble would be a success.
Separately, Hishamuddin said the finance ministry would take the lead in the monitoring and enforcement of Covid-19 SOPs in the manufacturing and construction sectors. - FMT

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