Minister: State govts ordered to come down hard on nightclubs, pubs found in violation of Covid-19 SOP

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has written to all state governments, ordering local councils to clamp down on operators of nightclubs and pubs that violate Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

During his press conference today, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was in response to the significant number of arrests that continue to be made by the authorities in such places.

“KPKT informed me that it has already sent letters to the state governments asking that they order their local councils to take sterner action against the owners of pubs and nightclubs, including revoking their operating licence and blacklisting their premises,” he added.

Ismail, who is also the defence minister, said that on January 1 alone, 623 people were detained in pubs and nightclubs.

“The taskforce will continue increasing their surveillance and take action on premise owners and public members who do not abide by the set SOPs” he added.

In October, Ismail Sabri maintained that bars, night clubs and all entertainment centres were barred from operating until further notice.

He said in his press briefing that such outlets were prohibited from opening during this phase of the movement control order (MCO) as they are still under the negative list and differed from restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages.

Previously in July last year, Ismail Sabri was reported saying that the government, through the KPKT and local authorities, would suspend the business licenses of bars, night clubs and entertainment centres found to be operating during the recovery movement control order (RMCO).

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