SHAH ALAM: All schools throughout Selangor have to close from tomorrow until May 17, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced today.

He said the closure order covered all areas subject to the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).

"(The closure order applies to) All national schools, day schools and schools that come under the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, we hope to follow this (closure) directive not to operate until after Aidilfitri and the Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) period is over," he told a press conference in here.

He said this took into account the Aidilfitri school holiday period which is to start on Monday (May 10) and that the decision to close schools tomorrow and Friday was taken after finding that there were still risks of COVID-19 infection in schools.

The government yesterday announced that the MCO will be implemented in six districts in Selangor namely Hulu Langat, Petaling, Gombak, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang, from tomorrow until May 17. The rest of the districts in the state are under the CMCO.

However, the menteri besar said that daycare centres were still allowed to operate as it was a requirement for working parents during the MCO period.

Amirudin also said that with the implementation of the MCO, Ramadan bazaar operation in all the six districts involved would no longer be allowed starting this Saturday (May 8).

"Taking into consideration that the number of business days would have reached 25 days by Friday, I think it is not so cruel to close the operation of these Ramadan bazaars," he said.

He said for Aidilfitri bazaars and night markets, traders are allowed to operate during the MCO period until 10 pm but subject to strict conditions.

"The number of visitors at any one time is limited to 50 per cent of the capacity, according to the size of the premises, and the queue number system will be enforced. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to enter these bazaars," he said.



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He said that if there are violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs), the authorities would not hesitate to close the bazaar involved.

Apart from that, Amirudin said dining in is not allowed from tomorrow at all eateries and hotels in the six MCO districts, including for Ramadan buffets, and that grocery stores, petrol stations and eateries could operate from 6 am to midnight during the MCO period.

"Details other than the above are subject to the National Security Council (MKN) (directives)," he said.

Meantime, Amirudin said the state government had also agreed to channel RM500 assistance to each affected Ramadan bazaar trader following the order to close Ramadan bazaars to ease their burden.

-- BERNAMA