Updated to include the issue of full Parliament sitting not being addressed.

CORONAVIRUS | As the country looks to revitalise the economy after over a month under a partial shutdown, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today announced the reopening of the majority of businesses and social activities from May 4.

However, the conditional movement control order (MCO) does not include businesses, operations, or any activities and events that would entail large gatherings, body contact and inability to maintain social distancing.

In a live address for Labour Day, the prime minister said the permission to reopen activities were based on strict rules and regulations, as well as standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“There are several categories of industries and businesses which are still not allowed to operate, as it involves gatherings and physical contact where social distancing would be hard to enforce.

“This includes cinemas, karaoke centres, reflexology centres, recreational centres, night clubs, theme parks, Ramadhan bazaars, sales carnivals as well as conferences and exhibitions,” he said.

Schools to remain closed

Others not permitted include hair salons, religious activities and prayers involving gatherings including at places of worship, open houses, as well as indoor and stadium sports.

Muhyiddin added that all schools, including institutions of higher learning, will also not be allowed to reopen for the time being.

Even so, and despite calls from opposition and many other quarters for a full sitting to be held this month, the premier made no mention of any changes to the coming Dewan Rakyat session in his address today.

Parliament is currently slated to be held for just one day on May 18 and parliamentarians are required to undergo prior Covid-19 testing.

Muhyiddin said, however, the list of activities will be revised from time to time, depending on the latest developments on efforts to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

The prime minister also said that he was aware that after close to two months of the MCO, many members of the workforce want to return to work as, if the MCO is prolonged, they would lose their income.

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List of banned activities during conditional MCO

NSC issues guidelines for businesses in the 'new normal'

The full list of businesses and activities not permitted to restart on May 4 can be found here.

The SOPs set by the NSC for businesses reopening is available here

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