KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — The government has approved social functions like weddings, birthday parties, and school reunions to be held from July 1, with a limit of 250 guests.
Senior Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the 250-pax limit depended on the size of the venue, as smaller venues will only be allowed to host fewer visitors, according to 1-metre social distancing rules.
He added that approval for social events also covered religious functions, like doa selamat events.
The senior minister maintained prohibition of buffets, but said the government has allowed dishes from buffets to be served to customers.
“Visitors cannot take their own food,” he told a press conference today. “The best is simply to serve.”
The usual standard operating procedures (SOPs) amid the Covid-19 outbreak apply to social events, such as temperature screenings and guest registration via the government’s MySejahtera app or done manually. Face coverings are also encouraged.
The federal government will also permit the sacrificial slaughter of cattle during Hari Raya Aidiladha at the end of next month, with a limit of 250 visitors, said Ismail Sabri.
These will be allowed only in mosques or surau in the Federal Territories, as religious affairs in other states are under the respective state jurisdiction.
Ismail Sabri said, however, that other states are free to use sacrificial slaughter SOPs provided by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) as reference.
He added that the government has also permitted Hari Raya Adiladha sacrificial slaughter at 28 government and 31 private abattoirs.
“Sacrificing at abattoirs is the safest to control social distancing,” he said. “We encourage it. You can take the meat and then distribute it to recipients.”
Ismail Sabri said organisers must report sacrificial slaughters to the nearest district health office, while participants are limited to 250 people and workers must not exceed 30 per cow.
“This is in terms of managing a cow, from killing it, slaughtering it, slicing and cutting the meat, putting the meat in plastic, and distributing it to representatives for distribution to the poor and destitute. One cow, maximum 30 people, from start to the end of their duties,” he said, as he also encouraged the use of modern equipment like slaughter stalls.
SOPs must be followed for Hari Raya Haji sacrificial slaughter, like temperature checks, visitor registration, hand sanitiser usage, and 1-metre social distancing. Children below 12 are not allowed to attend.
