MCO: Not an offence to appear in public without face mask - Ismail Sabri

It is not an offence under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) for any individual to be in a public place without wearing a face mask.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Director-General of Health's advice was clear that nose and mouth coverings are only for those with COVID-19 symptoms.

"So, we cannot enforce anyone who does not wear a mask to be detained. Once, supermarket managers and security guards had refused entry for individuals who wanted to enter their premises without wearing a mask. This clearly exceeds the regulations stipulated under this Act.

"So, it would not be an offence for anyone not to wear a mask," he told a media conference here today when asked to comment on a report that an individual was issued with a compound notice for failing to wear a mask while in public.

In the meantime, Ismail Sabri said cleaning workers on duty in the Enforced Movement Control Order (EMCO) area would not have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like other frontline workers.

He said suffice for them to wear only nose and mouth covering as the garbage collection operation did not involve any direct contact with residents of the EMCO area.

"The situation is different when they go into the rooms (hospital or treatment centre) to wash, so they have to use PPE because there is direct contact with the person with symptoms, there is a chance they will be infected with COVID-19 (if not wearing PPE)," he added.