PUTRAJAYA: Planting padi in areas under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) is allowed to avoid a shortage in the rice production of the country.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said however farmers working in the padi fields have to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) stipulated by the government to contain COVID-19 infection.

"With this clearance, the sustainability of food supply chain especially rice would not be affected. Padi planting areas under EMCO such as Ijok in Kuala Selangor can operate as usual," he said.

Ismail Sabri was speaking at a media conference with National Recovery Plan Coordinating Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz here today.

The government had earlier announced the implementation of EMCO in several sub-districts (mukim) and localities in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for 14 days from July 3 to 16 following high COVID-19 infection trend in the two states.

He also announced allowing legal firms to operate to facilitate documentation as courts would be reopening on Monday.

"This is because documentation involved government departments including the land office, banking institutions and court proceedings as well as others which have to be carried out," he said.

Ismail Sabri said the detailed SOP would be announced by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan soon.

On complaints by members of the public over the closure of mosques, Ismail Sabri said the SOP on reopening mosques would be decided by state governments and not the National Security Council (MKN).

"Mosque SOP covers allowing congregation as well as activities not controlled by MKN at federal level as activities relating to religion are under state governments," he said.

-- BERNAMA