PUBS and restaurants selling liquor are not allowed to operate during the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) period, said Annuar Musa.

The Federal Territories minister said the ministry has received complaints from non-Muslims that such premises in Kuala Lumpur are operating at night.

“Customers at pubs were not practising social distancing. I want to make clear that pubs are not restaurants. Eateries (that sell liquor) are also not considered restaurants (allowed to reopen).

“Although they serve food, they are still included in the ‘negative list’ along with karaoke and entertainment centres. They are not yet allowed to open for business,” he said in a Facebook Live session today.

He said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers conducted checks on 91 premises yesterday, the first day of the CMCO.

“Thirty-six premises were found to not be enforcing 1m distancing between customers, 48 did not have social-distancing markers and 28 did not provide hand sanitiser.”

He said all the premises have been directed to comply with the standard operating procedure under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

“Although we have entered the CMCO phase, the law still applies. Those who commit offences under the act can be charged in court. They face a maximum fine of RM1,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.”

Annuar added that DBKL will not hesitate to blacklist traders and hawkers who sell their business licences to foreigners.

He said foreigners with no valid paperwork or who are in Malaysia on a tourist visa, as well as those who have overstayed or hold the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees card, are not allowed to work in the country. – Bernama, May 5, 2020.