New SOP proposals for non-Muslim places of worship to be tabled next Monday

The proposals for new standard operating procedures (SOP) for non-Muslim places of worship will be tabled in the special ministers’ meeting on Covid-19 next Monday, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this in response to a question on whether non-Muslim places of worship will be allowed to open every day under the recovery movement control order (MCO).

“Non-Muslim places of worship were supposed to open on June 10, for one or two days only on days important to their religion. For example, for Christians, Sundays are important to them so they can open on that day.

“But with the latest development, we have already eased restrictions for congregational prayers in mosques, such as no longer limiting it to 30 people but to one-third of the normal size of the congregation.

“As there are changes to the new SOP for Muslim places of worship, I believe that there will be changes for non-Muslim places of worship,” Ismail Sabri explained in his press conference today.

He said he was also informed that the National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique will be tabling the proposals for the new SOP for non-Muslim places of worship next Monday in the special ministers’ meeting.

“Maybe there will be suggestions on adding more days (for them to be open), we will wait for Monday,” he said.

Previously, he had announced that non-Muslim places of worship allowed to open will have a maximum limit of 30 people on their premises at one time.

He had also announced earlier that 171 non-Muslim places of worship have been allowed to reopen.

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