New SOP for Hari Raya Aidiladha
The government has set new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidiladha including a limit on the number of animals being sacrificed for each location.
“For the animal sacrificial rites (ibadah korban), the government has decided to limit not more than 10 animals for mosques and surau including locations to perform the sacrifice which has been approved by the district religious office and the local authorities....
The government has set new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidiladha including a limit on the number of animals being sacrificed for each location.
“For the animal sacrificial rites (ibadah korban), the government has decided to limit not more than 10 animals for mosques and surau including locations to perform the sacrifice which has been approved by the district religious office and the local authorities.
“This limit is subject to how big the area is,” Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a press conference today.
However, the government encourages the animal sacrificial rites to be done at abattoirs under the Veterinary Services Department and licensed private ruminant abattoirs, he added.
Ismail said that the number of people allowed to be present at the ritual sacrifice is limited to 20 attendees for every animal.
In addition, only takeaway food will be allowed at the location of the sacrificial rites and no on-site feasting can take place.
The sacrificial rites, he said, can be held for four days, including the first day of Hari Raya Aidiladha, after the Aidiladha prayers and the three days of tasyrik.
However, it is encouraged for the ritual sacrifice to be done on the second day and the two days of tasyrik as Aidiladha itself falls on a Friday which will have Friday prayers, the senior minister added.
Meanwhile, he said, celebrating at home is permitted, but with a maximum of 20 people at a time.
However, “individuals who are still under the home quarantine process are completely forbidden to leave the house, let alone to return to their hometown or to fulfil the Aidiladha prayers. They also cannot receive any guests.”
If an individual with a quarantine wristband is found to be violating the SOP, Ismail urged the public to lodge a police report.
The Hari Raya Aidiladha SOPs will be enforced in the Federal Territories and can be used by the state religious departments as a reference, he said.
Meanwhile, Ismail (above) stated that the Sarawak state government has decided to limit movement between certain districts as Covid-19 cases continue to rise, especially in Kuching.
“The federal government has agreed to approve the Sarawak state government’s request to limit movement between zones in the state from Aug 1 to Aug 14,” he said.
Zone 1 encompasses Kuching, Serian and Samarahan, which are considered red and yellow zones, while Zone 2 includes Seri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang, which are considered green zones.
Any individual who wishes to travel between these two zones will need to request permission from the police first.
Travel within each zones are still allowed, he added.
Sarawak has also reduced the number of flights from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan into the state starting Aug 1 to Aug 14.
On a separate matter, Putrajaya has also decided to tighten their SOP for the process of ship crew to sign on and sign off.
For crew members who want to sign on, they have to undergo a Covid-19 test as soon as they arrive at an international entry point in Malaysia.
Those who test positive will be sent to the hospital while those with negative results must undergo a 14-day quarantine at an isolation centre, and undertake a second test on the 13th day.
Only those who test negative for the second time will be allowed to go through with the sign-on process at the port.
For the sign-off process, the crew will have to be tested for Covid-19 as soon as they arrive at the port.
Similarly, those who are positive will be sent to the hospital, while those who test negative will have to undergo quarantine.
If they are found negative, they will be allowed to fly back to their respective countries.
Ismail said the cost of the mandatory quarantine will be borne entirely by the crew’s employers.
