FOOD delivery services on e-hailing platforms will continue during Ramadan, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

“Food deliveries will carry on as usual. As a matter of fact the service is still running,” the defence minister said when asked to clarify on whether food deliveries will be stopped during Ramadan. 

“What the government has decided today is that drive-through and pre-order bazaars are not allowed to during Ramadan,” Ismail added. 

Earlier, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said the National Security Council has barred all alternative forms of Ramadan bazaars including food deliveries on e-hailing platforms.

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

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday had barred Ramadan bazaars from operating during the movement-control order period, which is due to end on April 28, almost a week after the fasting month begins on April 23.

He said the decision is final despite the Federal Territories Ministry’s preparations to unveil its plan to set up bazaar sites. 

Annuar previously said on Monday that officials from his ministry as well as the Kuala Lumpur City Hall will be presenting alternative concepts to a Covid-19 panel today. 

“(They want to know) where the drive-throughs 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 had been a proposal for drive-through bazaar to be set up at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, with stalls placed 20m apart.

On the pre-order concept, Annuar previously said the public can place orders for food and pay online, and pick up the items in designated areas, while for e-hailing food deliveries, the authorities can coordinate with service providers.

He said his ministry has met 100 representatives of traders and hawkers’ associations over the matter. – April 16, 2020.