WE empathise with the government over the difficult decision it had to make on “no balik kampung” for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Gawai and Pesta Kaamatan due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With a heavy heart, I would like to apologise in advance to all those who want to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Gawai and Kaamatan this year, but we are not allowing any interstate travel to celebrate these upcoming festivals,” said the prime minister yesterday.

Earlier last week, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government decided not to allow visiting family and friends as there is no way to ensure social distancing is practised in the home. As such, the government decided not to allow Raya house visits.

He further said Raya visits are included in the list of prohibited activities in Regulations (No. 5), which came into force on May 4 and ends on May 12.

But the closest thing on the list is the prohibition on “activities relating to religious, cultural and art festivities that may cause a crowd to gather”.

It is submitted that the prohibition is couched in vague language to include house visits.

The PM, however, has somewhat clarified that visiting family and neighbours in the same state will be allowed with a maximum of 20 people in the same place at the same time.

In comparison, Singapore’s “circuit breaker” – its equivalent of Malaysia’s movement-control order – that seeks to break the chain of infections has clear restrictions on leaving or entering a place of residence, and clearly states that an individual must not permit any other to enter his or her ordinary place of residence for any reason, and must not meet another individual not living in the same place of residence for any social purpose, unless permitted under the regulations.

As for our Regulations (No. 5), where does it provide for “no balik kampung”?

Regulation 5(1) prohibits interstate travel, as no person shall move from one infected local area to another infected local area except to and from work, and in relation to a person who is stranded at any place due to movement curbs to return home.

Each and every state is an infected local area.

However, Regulation 4(1) allows intrastate travel, as a person may move from one place to another within any infected local area. This means a person in Johor Baru may travel to Muar, which is more than 150km away, as it is intrastate (Johor).

If Muar is one’s “kampung”, where is the “no balik kampung” prohibition, then?

Ironically, a person is prohibited from travelling from Muar to Sg Rambai in Malacca, which is just 10km away, because it is interstate and prohibited by Regulation 5(1).

So, “no balik kampung” applies to interstate, not intrastate. And, house visits are allowed, but limited to 20 people.

Will this help break the chain of infections?

I think the baseline rule should be to stay home, as has always been advised by Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. The regulations should provide for exceptions to the rule, or provide for permitted activities, with breaking the chain of infections as the uppermost consideration.

It remains to be seen whether Regulations (No. 6), due to be published and come into force on May 13, will provide as such. – May 11, 2020.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.