OUTDOOR ceramah are allowed to be conducted only around the vicinity of party offices and operation rooms in Johor, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said mega outdoor ceramah in public areas are still not allowed during the campaigning period.

“Big outdoor ceramah has never been allowed,” he told a press conference at Serdang Hospital today.

“What we do allow is ceramah at the party’s office or operation room, which can be held either inside or around the area. Nothing has changed.”

For party offices and operation rooms at shoplots, it is acceptable to place chairs on the road in front of the shops as long as the number of attendees does not exceed the capacity set by the Election Commission (EC).

The EC yesterday fine-tuned its election standard operating procedures (SOP) by prohibiting more than 100 people – including the organisers, speakers, handlers and attendees – at such gatherings.

A ceramah can be held only inside or around the area, and the total number of attendees cannot exceed 100 or 50% capacity of the premises, it added.

It said the Health Ministry and National Security Council proposed the revision, adding that the revised guideline takes effect immediately.

The new SOP halts most ceramah by Pakatan, as, based on the coalition’s event in Kota Iskandar on Tuesday night, there were more than 100 people made up of mostly enforcement officers, journalists and party employees.

Khairy said EC’s announcement is made following Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s meeting with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and opposition representatives.

During the discussion, he added, Anwar requested to extend the ceramah till midnight and not limit the session to only two hours. – March 3, 2022.