Ramadan Bazaars Permitted If Health SOP Followed: DG

Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says it’s more important to practice social distancing, crowd control, and frequent handwashing.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Ramadan bazaars will be allowed during the Covid-19 outbreak if social distancing, stall spacing, and crowd control are practiced, health authorities said today.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said just like markets and pasar tani operating today, it was more important to practice the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) standard operating procedures (SOPs) like safe distancing, crowd control, good spacing, and frequent hand washing.

“Just like we have pasar tani, now market places, we have to avoid in terms of the crowd and spacing as well so there’s no contact. That’s more important.

“Just follow the SOP. If we’re happy with the SOP, probably we’ll give the green light,” Dr Noor Hisham told a press conference, when asked if it was advisable to hold Ramadan bazaars.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa reportedly said earlier today that Ramadan bazaars during the Muslim fasting season starting next month would not be cancelled, citing rural residents who do not have time to cook after work.

Instead, he said Ramadan bazaars in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan this year could be held with up to 50 stalls in an area, or 10 stalls spaced out and opened in several places.

“Just because Singapore or other parties have announced that there will be no bazaars this year does not mean we will say the same thing,” Free Malaysia Today quoted Annuar as saying in Putrajaya.

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