THERE will be no Ramadan bazaars as long as the movement control order (MCO) is in force, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the National Security Council will revisit the matter if the MCO is lifted before Ramadan, as new procedures will be introduced to curb Covid-19 infections in the country.

The MCO is now in its second phase until April 14. The restrictions on movement and business were enforced on March 18 for an initial two weeks. 

The government extended the MCO for another two weeks as the number Covid-19 cases continued to climb.

“The government has decided that as long as the MCO is in force, there will be no Ramadan bazaars. If the order is lifted, a new SOP will be in place and the National Security Council will draft the SOP.

“Whether or not there will be any Ramadan bazaar, the NSC will decide on it under the SOP,” Ismail Sabri said.

The Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Malacca governments have said there will not be Ramadan bazaars in their states this year.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, meanwhile, has yet to decide on whether to allow bazaars in Kuala Lumpur, saying a decision will be made after consultation with NSC.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has said proper crowd-control measures are required if bazaars are to be held.

The first day of Ramadan is expected to fall on April 23. – April 3, 2020.