Selangor Shuts Down Ramadan Bazaars In Mco Areas

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The Selangor government has decided not to allow Ramadan bazaars to operate in six districts to be placed under a movement control order (MCO) which comes into force tomorrow.
Putrajaya, in announcing the MCO yesterday, had said Ramadan bazaars can still operate but added that the Selangor government would have the final say.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari (above) said the Ramadan bazaar closure will only take effect from Saturday onwards to allow traders to clear their stock.
"This is to allow the operators at the bazaars to fulfil their responsibility, especially to manage their stocks.
"Since they have operated at the Ramadan bazaars for 25 days, I think we are not being cruel in forcing them to shut down.
"We decided (today) that Ramadan bazaars will not be allowed, beginning this Saturday," Amirrudin told a press conference today after chairing a state-level National Security Council meeting to iron out details of the implementation of the MCO for the six Selangor districts.
He also announced that the government will allocate RM500 for each of the 11,000 Ramadan bazaar stall owners who will be affected by the closure.
The MCO will be implemented in six Selangor districts - Petaling, Hulu Langat, Gombak, Klang, Kuala Langat, and Sepang - from May 6 to 17.

Amirudin said the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Selangor was the result of community activities in places like schools and mosques.
"Although these activities are quite dispersed, it is (still) worrying because those who were infected showed up in public venues, such as shopping centres and Ramadan bazaars.
"That's why we felt that it is appropriate to implement the MCO in these (six) districts," he said.
There is no need for the state government to come out with a stimulus package for the time being as the economic activities are not affected during the implementation of MCO, added Amirudin.
Dine-in at eateries will not be allowed during the MCO. However, restaurants and hawker stalls can operate for takeaway orders between 6am and 12am.
Amirudin said night markets and Raya bazaars can continue to operate with strict conditions, including limiting the number of visitors at any one time.
"Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to enter these premises," he said.
According to the SOPs, access roads to the six districts will be closed and will be monitored by the police as interstate and interdistrict travels are prohibited.
Couples in long-distance marriage living in the MCO areas are allowed to return to meet their spouses with police permission.
The state government also allows matriculation colleges to carry out hybrid classes while teachers and lecturers can continue to go to the institutions in accordance with the directive of the Education Department.
Laundry shops, optical shops, and carwash centres can operate from 6am to 10pm while only haircut services are allowed at barbershops and hair salons.
Childcare centres and nurseries can continue to operate during the MCO period. Public parks will be opened and sports and activities that involved no physical contact are permitted.
Economic activities, including manufacturing, are allowed in the six districts, the International Trade and Industry Ministry said in a statement today.
The work-from-home order will be imposed where 30 percent of employees in the management group can go to the office, while the number of employees required at any one time for employees in the support group will be decided by the respective employer. - Mkini

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