THE National Security Council has barred all forms of Ramadan bazaars including drive-through, pre-order and e-hailing models.

The decision was made “after considering various factors and the current situation”, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said on Twitter today.

“After deliberating on the matter, and after hearing the views of the police and health officials, the council decided there would be no public gatherings at all, even the alternative forms,” he said in a live telecast on Facebook today.

“The movement-control order must be enforced. We need to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and to restrict movements, including those of hawkers. The war is not yet won. I hope hawkers understand the situation that we are in.”

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday barred Ramadan bazaars from opening under a nationwide movement control order, which is due to end on April 28, about a week into the fasting month.

The PM said the decision was final even though the Federal Territories Ministry was preparing to unveil a plan for e-bazaar sites.

The same day Annuar said FT and City Hall officials would be presenting alternative concepts of the bazaae to a Covid-19 task force.

“(They want to know) where the drive-through will be located, where the stalls are going to be placed, how many people can work, and whether social distancing is followed,” he had said.

There was a proposal for a drive-through bazaar to be set up at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, with stalls spaced 20m apart.

Annuar had also said that the ministry was working to set up systems for customers to order and pay online and pick up their orders in designated areas or have them delivered via e-hailing riders.

He said ministry official had met 100 representatives of traders and hawkers’ associations to discuss the plan. – April 16, 2020.