Government Announces That Restaurants & Convenient Stores Will Be Allowed To Open Until 2AM

source: SAYS.com/ The Star

Instead of closing at midnight, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri announced today that businesses such as restaurants and convenient stores are allowed to open until 2am starting tomorrow.

After many business operators complained about the lack of income, he said the National Security Council (NSC) decided to extend the operating hours until 2am at a meeting yesterday.

“Many complaints, especially in tourist places like Langkawi. They are forced to close at 12 am and since there is no entertainment, they can only eat,” Ismail said. He also added that the extension is not just for Langkawi, but for all areas.

Photo credit: LIM BENG TATT/The Star/ 24 April 2020.

When he was asked at a press conference whether the extension would apply to indoor sports facilities, he said this should be no problem and he would bring up the matter in a meeting next week, according to FMT.

Ismail also said that foreigners are allowed to join prayers in mosques and other places of worship as long as SOPs are being followed through. Previously, the government limited the number of people allowed in mosques before deciding to allow only locals to attend.

He had also expressed concerns that the country would go back under lockdown with the rising number of recent Covid-19 cases and that Putrajaya would consider the MCO again if Malaysia reaches triple-digit cases.