KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — The government has permitted people to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya Haji this weekend, despite a recent rise in daily Covid-19 cases.
Senior Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob also announced that a maximum of 10 cows will be allowed for slaughter at a certain place, with no more than 20 people per animal.
He added that the 10-cow limit depended on the size of the location of the slaughter. If the area for the slaughter is smaller, for example accommodating only six cows, then the number of animals permitted will be fewer than 10.
Ismail Sabri also encouraged people to conduct the sacrificial slaughters at abattoirs, rather than at mosques or surau.
“The number of participants permitted during the sacrificial ritual is a ratio of 20 people to one animal. If it’s five animals, then the limit is 100 people; if 10 animals, then 200 people.
“This includes slaughtering, meat-cutting, and distributing the meat. It’s all based on 20 people for each animal,” Ismail Sabri told a press conference today.
He added that kenduri would not be allowed at the site of the slaughter, except for packed food.
Ismail Sabri said home feasts during Hari Raya Aidiladha, which falls this Friday, are permitted a maximum of 20 guests at any one time. Those under home quarantine are not allowed to return to their hometowns or receive visitors at home during the celebration.
These Hari Raya Haji guidelines will be practiced in the Federal Territories, but the minister said other state governments could also adopt them.
The senior defence minister reiterated today that the government may re-impose the Movement Control Order (MCO) if daily Covid-19 cases reach 100 and above, but stressed that this need not take place if the public follows standard operating procedures (SOPs) like social distancing and washing hands frequently.
“The MCO may be imposed. But if we continue to follow, avoid what is prohibited, and practice government directions, cases can be reduced and we can end the RMCO (Recovery Movement Control Order), and we do not have to go back and forth,” he said.
“The power is in your hands, not to re-introduce the MCO, but to end the RMCO. So practice self-discipline to ensure our safety.”
The RMCO — which reopened most of the economy — is scheduled to end on August 31.
Fresh coronavirus clusters have broken out in the past few week. New cases have mostly hit double digits each day since July 19, with the exception of nine new cases on July 23. Yesterday saw 13 new cases reported nationwide.
