Aidilfitri bazaars allowed to operate until 2 am - Ismail Sabri

He said the extension of operating hours was allowed after listening to appeals from bazaar traders.

"We were informed that visitors will only go out after Isyak and tarawih prayers, and when we allow them (traders) to operate until midnight, their business hours are too short," he said in a news conference on the development of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and Recovery MCO (RMCO) today.

On the standard operating procedures (SOP) for Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, Ismail Sabri said they were being scrutinised and would be announced next week after listening to a presentation from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).

Meanwhile, he said any decision relating to the closure of schools due to COVID-19 cases should go through the Education Ministry and Health Ministry.

Ismail Sabri added that the Education Ministry would make the decision to close or reopen schools based on risk assessment by the Health Ministry.

“I hope state governments do not make decisions on their own because this is under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry,” he said.