MEETINGS, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (Mice) activities will be allowed to resume in states under the movement-control order (MCO), said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri.

He said these activities were allowed to resume after considering the economic and job losses related to their closure.

“During a meeting yesterday, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture reported that profits from Mice activities for the year 2020 had declined to just RM2.25 billion, which is almost a 90% loss compared to 2019, (when it contributed) RM9.25 billion to the economy,” Ismail said today at his daily media briefing on Covid-19 standard operating procedure.

“Other than that, almost five thousand workers from the Mice industry have been laid off, and industry players will most likely have to close shop in the near future,” he added.

Ismail the government agreed to allow Mice activities to resume as long as the events follow SOP and limit participants according to venue capacity.

Meanwhile, Ismail also announced that buskers would now be allowed to play at outdoor and indoor locations in movement-control order states.

Busking is the activity of playing music in streets or public places, including bars and restaurants, for donations.

He said, considering some musicians rely solely on busking for income, it would be appropriate to allow them to resume work as long they follow the SOP.

The movement-control order for Selangor, Johor and Penang, and Kuala Lumpur will last until March 4.  – February 25, 2021.