PUBS and clubs were not given the green light to operate under the recovery movement control order (RMCO) due to the high risk of Covid-19 transmission, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

“We have not allowed pubs and clubs to operate under the RMCO,” he said in his weekly press conference today.

“We have not (allowed it) because there is a high risk of transmission in pubs and clubs,” he said.

Noor Hisham said enforcement personnel, such as the police, have no choice but to take the necessary action against such premises found operating.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa had earlier today said that the SOP for bars and restaurants will be reviewed as the number of people flouting the RMCO guidelines has increased.

On Monday, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 577 people were arrested for failing to comply with SOPs while partaking in activities in pubs and nightclubs.

Almost all economic activities were allowed to resume operations with SOPs in place once the RMCO was implemented on June 9. – October 1, 2020.