ALL food outlets, including stalls, in Sarawak have been ordered to shut by 8pm daily.

The directive, from the state’s Local Government and Housing Ministry, was to have come into force last night but it was only announced public today.

In a circular to all municipal and local councils, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Antonio Kahti Galis said the closure notice stands “until further notice”.

He said the directive is in line with the movement control order which came into force yesterday to tackle the spread of the Covid-19 virus that has now killed two people in Malaysia.
One of them was a 60-year-old pastor in Kuching.

The circular instructed all local authorities to ensure its compliance.

All food outlets are allowed to operate during the restriction of movement period but only to cater for takeaways.

Yesterday,  Kuching South mayor Wee Hong Seng was livid when he found a popular breakfast place at the Kenyalang Park market in his part of the city packed full of people.
 
In a post on Facebook, Wee threatened to shut down the outlet f the stall owners continued to allow dine-ins.

Kuching South City Hall has today ordered all hawker centres, night markets, food truck businesses and entertainment centres within its jurisdiction to be closed until the movement restriction order is lifted at the end of the month.

An exception was made for food outlets but they must comply with the no dine-in order and the new order to close by 8pm. – March 19, 2020.