‘States cannot act on own authority during MCO’

PUTRAJAYA: Decisions by states and local authorities during the movement control order (MCO) period must be in line with those of the National Security Council, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said under the MCO, only the National Security Council could issue orders and directives as well as the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the country.

“This is not an ordinary day or situation where local authorities can use their power to allow business premises to open or to close.

“State governments must ensure decisions made while the MCO is in force is in line with what is issued by the Federal Government. We need everyone to be on board so we can bring down the number of Covid-19 cases,” he said yesterday.

Ismail Sabri was commenting on reports that Selangor had allowed auto workshops and spare part outlets to operate from 9am to 4pm during the MCO.

On another matter, he said the permission to allow Heineken Malaysia Bhd and Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd to continue with their operations during the MCO had been revoked.

He said the International Trade and Industry Ministry would issue the letter on the revocation.

Heineken had suspended brewery operations in Petaling Jaya on March 24 due to the MCO but on April 5 obtained the approval from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to resume limited operations with a minimal number of essential workers.

Ismail Sabri also said the Health Ministry would come up with an SOP on the enforcement of the enhanced MCO. For instance, he said when a village was affected by Covid-19, the authorities would close down other villages within a 5km radius as well.