PPN: Public parks in Phase 1 states to reopen Aug 16 - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: All public recreational parks in the states under Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) will be allowed to reopen for leisure activities to ensure the well-being of the people and reduce mental health stress, effective tomorrow (Aug 16).

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, however, only individual activities would be allowed such as jogging, cycling and exercising, in line with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sports and leisure in Phase One of the PPN.

"The public is only allowed to visit public recreational parks in the neighbourhood. Do not travel interstate or interdistricts to go to other recreational parks.

"This relaxation is very important for the people to have more time in the open and have a better ventilation system than being just confined at home. So, I really hope that this incentive will not be abused," he said in a statement today.

At the same time, he also reminded the local authorities (PBT) and related agencies to be responsible for monitoring the compliance of SOPs in the public recreational parks involved to ensure that they are implemented in accordance with the rules set to avoid any harm.

Meanwhile, for the tourism sector, the Prime Minister said the government was studying the views and feedback from stakeholders on the proposal to make Langkawi Island a pilot project for a travel bubble destination.

He said any findings from the pilot project would be used as a benchmark before it would be expanded to other tourist destinations, especially those that have good methods of controlling the movement of tourists, especially other resort islands throughout the country.

Muhyiddin said the plan was important to revive the tourism industry after more than a year of being hit by the pandemic.

"The Ministry of Health (MOH) and health experts proposed that the government implement this plan only when the vaccination rate in Langkawi reaches at least 80 per cent of its total population.

"The people allowed to travel to Langkawi Island will be limited to fully vaccinated individuals and this proposal is being studied by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. The decision will be finalised through a series of discussions after this," he said.

Following the relaxations announced today, the Prime Minister hoped that it would not only provide some relief to the people in terms of emotional and mental health but also help to gradually restore the situation, especially the economic sector.

He said the government would not hesitate to withdraw the relaxations in the event of non-compliance with the guidelines and SOPs that had been set.

"If there is an infection in the premises that receive these incentives, the MOH will immediately take appropriate measures, including re-evaluating the risk and not ruling out the possibility of immediate closure of the premises or areas involved, in addition to issuing compounds.

"Once again, I would like to remind everyone, the relaxations provided do not mean that the people have gained absolute freedom. Every SOP, guideline and procedure must be adhered to diligently," he said.

Apart from the social and tourism sectors, Muhyiddin today also announced incentives for 11 economic activities in the trade and distribution sector for states under Phase One and 11 additional economic sectors for states under Phase Two of the PPN, starting tomorrow.

In addition, all non-essential activities in the manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying sectors in the states under Phase One (Kedah, Selangor, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Federal Territory of Putrajaya), Phase Two (Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Sabah) and Phase Three (Perlis, Sarawak and Federal Territory of Labuan) of PPN are allowed to resume operation on the same day.

-- BERNAMA