Malaysia extends CMCO in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya till 9 November 2020

Malaysia has extended the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO, or Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Bersyarat - PKPB) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya for two more weeks, until 9 November 2020.

Announcing this in a press conference on Monday (26 October), Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said although the CMCO in these areas was meant to end today (27 October), the Ministry of Health had still found a number of high-risk locations for the spread of COVID-19. 

Thus, the need for the extension. Senior Minister Ismail Sabri also noted that the current CMCO standard operating procedures will continue to apply in this period. 

Additionally, as cited in a report by Bernama, he said that the National Security Council (NSC) has further agreed to implement the CMCO in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, which will last from 28 October to 10 November, in light of a surge in positive COVID-19 cases among foreigners there.

Enhanced MCO imposed and extended in selected areas

Apart from the above, the NSC will also impose the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in selected areas in Sabah, namely Taman Mesra and Taman Mawar in Sandakan; as well as in Putra Point Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, at two workers' hostels. This will last from 28 October to 10 November, Bernama reported.

Lastly, the government will also be extending the ongoing EMCO in Taman Khazanah Indah and Mutiara Kasih Apartment in Lahad Datu, as well as in Felda Umas, Kalabakan, Sabah, for the same period.

What does the CMCO extension mean for employers and staff?

In view of the ongoing CMCO, Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry recently released a set of FAQs, related to the recent tightening of work-from-home requirements in the CMCO areas. 

For instance, these FAQs note that the movement of workers in these CMCO areas is allowed and employees must bring an employee pass or employer permission letter. Employees who need to cross the state for work in the PKPB area are allowed to do so, by bringing an employee pass or employer permission letter.

At the same time, the FAQs also state that in this period, only 10% of management and supervisory staff in a company can be in the office, limited to four hours, from 10am to 2pm, three days a week. For example, if there are 10 or less people in the management and supervision group, only one is allowed to come to the office at a time.

Read the full set of FAQs here. 

Photo / Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Facebook page

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