Stricter MCO 3.0 SOP: More employees to work from home, public transport capacity to be halved starting 25 May, says M’sian govt

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — More employees in both the public and private sectors can anticipate working from home soon, as part of the Malaysian government’s slew of new measures in its Movement Control Order (MCO) standard operating procedure announced today.

Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob told reporters at a press conference in Putrajaya on Saturday (22 May) that 80 per cent of all workers in the public sector will be required to work from home.

40 per cent of workers — or 6.1 million employees — in the private sector will be required to do the same, he added.

Ismail Sabri said that as a result, the number of Malaysians commuting to work daily will be reduced by 8 million people.

Public transport capacity will also be halved.

The new guidelines on working arrangements are among a suite of tighter restrictions slated to take effect on Tuesday (25 May).

Other requirements include shortening business hours to 8 am until 8 pm.

“The same operating hours will also apply to convenience stores, pet stores, laundromats as well as shopping malls,” he said.

Night markets will be allowed to open between 4 pm and 8 pm, while pharmacies will be allowed to open from 8 am to 10 pm, Ismail Sabri added.

The press conference, which was jointly held with Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah, came on the heels of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announcement on Friday that the government would tighten current MCO 3.0 restrictions on both economic and social sectors.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the country will be placed under a nationwide MCO 3.0, which began on 12 May and will last until 7 Jun, following the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country.

Many activities typically held during Eid or Hari Raya Aidilfitri were halted, such as interstate and cross-district travels, house visits and the visiting of graves as part of the restrictions.

People are also prohibited from dining in eateries, and schools and educational institutions remain closed during the period, among other regulations.

6,320 new cases were recorded in Malaysia on Saturday, bringing the cumulative nationwide total to 505,115.