MORE people can sit at a table while dining at restaurants as long as social distancing is practised, said senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail Sabri said restaurants can even fit 10 to a table with the condition that social distancing must be adhered to.

“If a long table can fit 10 people, then 10 can sit (in a table). But there must be social distancing.

“If the large table can fit 10, it does not make sense to sit only two people there.

“So, there are no restrictions to this but social distancing is a must,” he said today in a press briefing on the Covid-19 response, in Putrajaya.

He was answering a question on the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the National Security Council (MKN) on eateries where a maximum of four were allowed to sit at a table.

During the recovery movement-control order (RMCO), restaurants and eateries are allowed to operate until midnight.

On other matters, Ismail Sabri said police arrested 61 individuals for failure to comply with RMCO instructions yesterday.

Of these, nine individuals have been remanded and 52 have been issued compounds.

Among their offences include activities in pubs and nightclubs, reflexology or massages, and activities that involved breaching of social distancing.

As for Ops Benteng, conducted from May 1 till yesterday, Ismail Sabri said eight illegal immigrants and 153 skippers were arrested for attempting to illegally enter the country. 

Also arrested were 12 individuals suspected of smuggling the migrants and 18 boats have been seized.

Ismail Sabri also said the police conducted 68 roadblocks nationwide yesterday and 66 the day before to curb illegal entries.

He said from 40,880 vehicles checked, police arrested six foreign nationals yesterday and four  on Monday over immigration offences. – June 17, 2020.