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13/03/2020 10:49 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 -- The government has decided that all gatherings, including international meetings, sports, social and religious events be postponed or cancelled until April 30, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the decision would be reviewed if the COVID-19 situation improved.
Muhyiddin said yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Religious Affairs Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri had issued guidelines for religious gatherings at mosques to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I hope Islamic religious authorities in the states would issue similar guidelines by taking into account the advice and directive from relevant authorities, particularly the Ministry of Health,” said the prime minister in a special address to the nation that was aired live on television tonight.
Yesterday, Zulkifli was reported to have said that Friday prayers would proceed with some changes including shortening the length of the sermon.
The guidelines also include that ablutions to be performed at home rather than at mosques, while mosque managements to provide hand sanitisers.
Elaborating further, Muhyiddin said religious events for other religions involving large-scale gatherings must take into account advice and directive from the Ministry of Health.
In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, several agencies, associations and relevant quarters have postponed or cancelled their programmes.
In Perlis, the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamallulail had decreed that today’s Friday prayers all at mosques in the state be replaced by zuhur prayers at home.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education decided that all programmes involving mass gathering such as sports and co-curricular activities at all school nationwide be postponed, effective today.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Malaysia Football League (MFL) also announced that all 2020 Malaysian League (M-League) matches scheduled from March 16 will be postponed.
The prime minister said he was aware that some of the people were economically affected by the outbreak.
“Some are told to take time off, work from home, and even lose their jobs. Economically, the sectors most affected are tourism, small and medium enterprises, and the transport industry. I am aware that urgent measures must be taken by the government to reduce the impact of this outbreak on the country's economy, especially to the people, " Muhyiddin said.
-- BERNAMA
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