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[Updated] SOPs for Malaysia's extended movement control orders, 29 April to 17 May 2021

[Updated] SOPs for Malaysia's extended movement control orders, 29 April to 17 May 2021

New updates to note include information on inter-district/inter-state travel, attendance capacity at workplaces, extended Aidilfitri bazaar operation hours, and more. 


Malaysia's extended Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO/PKPB) and Recovery MCO (RMCO/PKPP) in designated states take effect today, for the next two weeks (29 April to 17 May 2021). In light of this, the National Security Council (MKN) has released an updated set of SOPs that need to be followed in this period.

New updates to note include information on inter-district/inter-state travel, attendance capacity at workplaces, extended Aidilfitri bazaar operation hours, and more. 

Read the excerpts below.

SOPs for CMCO/PKPB

Applicable to:

  • Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak and Selangor
  • Seremban district in Negeri Sembilan, and Kuala Muda district in Kedah

*The CMCO in Sarawak is effective 27 April to 17 May 2021, while for the rest listed above, the start date is 29 April 2021.

Movement within/across districts and states

Movement within the PKPB/CMCO area is permitted. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are considered one zone, thus cross-movement is allowed. However, movement to other PKPB/CMCO areas, MCO/PKP, RMCO/PKPP and EMCO/PKPD areas is not permitted, except with the Royal Malaysia Police's (PDRM) permission.

The number of passengers allowed in a private vehicle is according to the capacity of the vehicle, but high-risk individuals and children are discouraged from going out into public, open and crowded areas.

  • The number of persons allowed in vehicles carrying necessary goods and services as well as the chain of economic/industrial activities depends on the commercial vehicle registration license.
  • The movement of private vehicles, Government departments or private companies for the purpose of going to and from work or carrying out official Government business depends on the seating capacity of the vehicle.

Activities and services at all airports and ports are allowed to operate. Public transport services such as stop buses, express buses, LRT/ MRT/ ERL/ Monorails, ferries, planes, taxis/e-hailing and other public transport services are allowed to operate (operating hours according to license conditions), based on vehicle capacity.

Food delivery services are also allowed to operate, from 6am to midnight.

Lastly, cross-state permits are allowed for long distance married couples, after obtaining PDRM's permission.

Specifically for Sabah - Cross-movement activities are permitted in designated zones except for districts under the MCO/PKP.

Division of District Zones:

  1. Zone 1: Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan and Papar;
  2. Zone 2: Beaufort, Kuala Turtle and Sipitang;
  3. Zone 3: Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas;
  4. Zone 4: Beluran, Telupid, Kinabatangan and Tongod
  5. Zone 5: Kunak, Semporna and Kalabakan; and
  6. Zone 6: Keningau, Tambunan, Tenom and Nabawan.

Cross-district movement is only allowed within the same zone and movement between zones is not allowed except with the permission of the PDRM.

Activities allowed within the CMCO/PKPB area

Businesses, the economy and industry are allowed to operate as determined by the Government.

  • Ramadan bazaars are allowed to operate between 3.00pm to 8.00pm, in compliance with SOPs, and supervision of the authorities and RELA/PBT members. Aidilfitri bazaars are also allowed to operate, with extended hours of between 10.00am to 2.00am (previously midnight), in compliance with the Ramadan Bazaar and Aidilfitri Bazaar SOP.
  • Government-run and private clinics and hospitals can operate for 24 hours, or according to the time determined by the Government. Meanwhile, pharmacies and shops that dispense medication can operate from 8am to midnight.

  • Supermarkets, shopping malls and retail stores are allowed to operate in accordance with the SOPs, between 6.00am to midnight.

  • Restaurants, shops/food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, street hawkers, food courts/hawker centres, roadside food stalls/kiosks, grocery stores and convenience stores are also allowed to operate between 6.00am to midnight, in compliance with the food sector's SOPs.

  • Restaurants and eateries are allowed to operate on a dine-in basis (with one-metre distance between customers, according to table size), takeaway, delivery or drive-throughs in compliance with the food sector's SOPs. Hours of operation will be from 6.00am to midnight (subject to licence conditions). 

  • The operation of daily markets, wholesale markets, farmers; markets, night markets, and late night bazaars (uptown, downtown and the likes) will be according to the start time of operation according to the licence/permit until midnight. This will have to be in compliance with SOPs, supervision of the authorities, and RELA/PBT members.

  • Ramadan bazaars are allowed to operate between 3.00pm to 8.00pm, in compliance with SOPs, and supervision of the authorities and RELA/PBT members. Aidilfitri bazaars are also allowed to operate between 10.00am to midnight, in compliance with the Ramadan Bazaar and Aidilfitri Bazaar SOP.
  • The pumping operation hours at petrol stations will be between 6am and midnight (unless petrol stations on highways are allowed to operate 24 hours).

  • Laundry operations are permitted from 6:00am to midnight.

  • SPAs, reflexology, massage, and wellness activities including pedicure and manicure services are allowed, also from 6.00am to midnight or according to the conditions of the local authority, whichever is earlier.

  • Likewise, the operation of other businesses for permitted daily needs will be allowed from 6.00am to midnight (subject to license conditions).

  • Religious activities - Activities in mosques and suraus are permitted with attendance limits set by the State Religious Authority. Activities in non-Muslim houses of worship are also allowed, with attendance limits set by the Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Federal Territories for houses of worship in the Federal Territories.

Workplace attendance/employee-related activities

Movement out of/into PKPB/CMCO areas, MCO/PKP, RMCO/PKPP areas is allowed for employment. The movement of employees is subject to the employer's confirmation letter/employee pass or operating approval letter/business licence from the local authority (for the self employed).

While this is so, movement to Enhanced MCO/PKPD areas is not allowed.

The attendance capacity of employees in the public service is based on the Circular/Instruction of the Public Service Department (JPA); for the private sector, the attendance capacity now stands at 100% for management and operations/support groups.

Vehicles carrying employees, including private vehicles, are allowed to operate in compliance with SOPs.

Read the full set of CMCO SOPs on MKN's website.


SOPs for RMCO/PKPP

Applicable to: Kedah (except Kuala Muda), Labuan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (except Seremban), Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Putrajaya, and Terengganu

Movement within/across districts and states

Movement within the RMCO/PKPP area is permitted. However, movement to other RMCO/PKPP areas, MCO/PKP, CMCO/PKPB and EMCO/PKPD areas is not allowed, except with PDRM's permission.

The number of passengers allowed in a private vehicle is according to the capacity of the vehicle, but high-risk individuals and children are discouraged from going out into public, open and crowded areas.

The number of persons allowed in vehicles carrying necessary goods and services, as well as the chain of economic/industrial activities, depends on the commercial vehicle registration licence.

The movement of private vehicles, Government departments or private companies for the purpose of going to and from work or carrying out official Government business depends on the seating capacity of the vehicle.

Activities and services at all airports and ports are allowed. Similarly, public transport services such as stop buses, express buses, LRT/ MRT/ ERL/monorails, ferries, planes, taxis/e-hailing services and other public transport services are allowed to operate (according to license conditions), based on vehicle capacity.

Cross-state permits are allowed for long-distance married couples, with the permission of PDRM.

Bubbles: Cross-state tourism bubble activities between RMCO/PKPP states to other RMCO/PKPP states are allowed, with travel packages purchased through travel companies that are legally licensed and registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC). 

However, private movement is not permitted - instead, tourist movement must only be done using tourist vehicles registered with MOTAC. Travel agencies would need to obtain permission from the PDRM for cross-state movement.

Travel must be carried out directly to a RMCO/PKPP state and there should be no stopping in any CMCO/PKPB state.

Movement from CMCO/PKPB states to RMCO/PKPP states is not allowed.

Activities allowed within the RMCO/PKPP area

Clinics, Government and private hospitals, and medical laboratories are allowed to operate on a 24-hour basis or in accordance with the operating license. At the same time, pharmacies and shops selling medicines can operate under license conditions.

Businesses, the economy and industry are allowed to operate as determined by the Government.

  • Ramadan bazaars are allowed to operate from 3.00pm to 8.00pm, in compliance with SOPs, and supervision of the authorities and RELA/PBT members. Aidilfitri bazaars are also allowed to operate, from10.00am to 2.00am (previously midnight), in compliance with the Ramadan Bazaar and Aidilfitri Bazaar SOP.

  • Supermarkets, shopping malls and retail stores are allowed to operate in accordance with the SOPs, operating hours are according to the license/permit approved by the ministry/agency/local authority.

  • Restaurants, shops/food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, street hawkers, food courts/hawker centres, roadside food stalls/kiosks, grocery stores and convenience stores are also allowed to operate, at a timing based on licenses/permits approved by the ministry/agency/local authority, in compliance with the food sector's SOPs.

  • Restaurants and eateries are allowed to operate on a dine-in basis (with a one-metre distance between customers, according to table size), takeaway, delivery or drive-throughs in compliance with the food sector's SOPs. Hours of operation are subject to license conditions.

  • The operation of daily markets, wholesale markets, farmers; markets, night markets, and late night bazaars (uptown, downtown and the likes) will be in accordance with normal operating hours (subject to local authorities) in compliance with SOPs and the practice of new norms.

  • Pumping operation hours at petrol stations are according to the license / permit approved by the ministry/agency/local authority, and the same applies for laundry operations.

  • Spas, reflexology, massage, and wellness activities including pedicure and manicure services are allowed, also from 6am to midnight or according to the conditions of the local authority, whichever is earlier.

  • The operation of other businesses for daily needs are allowed at a time set according to the license/permit approved by the ministry/agency/local authority.

Workplace attendance/employee-related activities

Movement in/out of RMCO/PKPP areas to MCO/PKP and CMCO/PKPB areas is allowed, subject to the employer's confirmation letter/employee pass, or operating approval letter/business license from the local authority (for the self-employed).

However, movement in/out of PKPP areas to EMCO/PKPD areas is not allowed.

Read the full set of RMCO SOPs on MKN's website


Photo / 123RF

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