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Here’s The Official Deepavali SOPs For CMCO, EMCO & RMCO Areas

Here’s The Official Deepavali SOPs For CMCO, EMCO & RMCO Areas

There’s different SOPs for CMCO and non-CMCO areas.

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The National Security Council (MKN) has released the official standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Malaysians celebrating Deepavali on 14 November.

According to Senior Minister (Defence & Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the SOPs differ for areas under Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

Deepavali SOP for RMCO & CMCO Areas

In places of worship (temple/kuil)

  • Prayers only allowed on the first day of Deepavali (14 November)
  • A counter must be placed at the entrance to check temperature and screen for symptoms associated with Covid-19 such as cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing.
  • Record attendance manually or via MySejahtera app.
  • Those with chronic diseases, elderly and children below 12 years old are discouraged from going to the temple.
  • Prayers must fully comply with the SOP for places of worship that was previously released by MKN
  • Prayers conducted between 7am -12 noon and divided into five sessions. There must be a 30 minute gap between each session for sanitation.
  • Maximum 30 people in attendance for one prayer session.
  • Sweets must be distributed in pre-packed packages to attendees.
  • Attendees must immediately disperse once prayers have concluded.

SOP at home- landed property

  • Close family members allowed and maximum 20 people at any one time.
  • Interdistrict and interstate travel not allowed in CMCO areas.

SOP at home – strata property (apartment, condominium etc)

  • Unit size below 1,500 square feet – maximum 10 people
  • Unit size above 1,500 square feet – maximum 15 people

Wearing face masks, physical distancing, washing hands and use of hand sanitizer is highly encouraged.

Deepavali SOP for EMCO Areas

  • Prayers at temple is not allowed at all
  • Home prayers and festivities are only allowed for family members of the same household.
  • No visitors allowed

Ismail Sabri also stressed that no balik kampung is allowed for those in CMCO and EMCO areas.


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