The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) is still in force throughout the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Following that, he said, those who violated the directives would still be taken action.

"The government has set strict SOP (standard operating procedure) requirements in spite of the health and economic importance required, but they are subject to strict SOP. I need to remind that the MCO is still in force.

"This does not mean that the MCO is no more, Act 342 is still binding on our people to obey every order because Act 342 is still in force and action can still be taken against violators," he said at a press conference here on Saturday.

In fact, Ismail Sabri said, this was in line with the earlier announcement to relax the MCO a bit by bit.

Therefore, he said, the announced economic sector operations were carried out in stages.

"For example, we limit business operations until 8 pm and it will be loosened gradually, so it is allowed up to 10 pm.

"Initially, factories allowed to operate involves production of food and medicine and the workforce was only 50 per cent, after which it was relaxed to 100 per cent," he added.

In this regard, Ismail Sabri denied that the government was in a hurry to open up the economic sector with the implementation of the CMCO.

"Although we are opening up operations, we are not in a hurry because we are going through certain stages.

“Now we are open in the green areas. That's why we give the traders the freedom to reopen their stalls, the banana fritter sellers for example because the people's life at the grassroots is difficult and this will give them a chance to earn money," he said.

The action too, he asserted, did not mean the MCO has been withdrawn but was merely relaxed.