MCA Ethnic Relations & Religious Affairs Bureau to facilitate to convey & promote National Unity Ministry SOP on houses of worship under MCO 3.0

MCA Ethnic Relations and Religious Affairs Bureau will cooperate with the Ministry of National Unity to promote the latest standard operating procedures (SOP) for non-Muslim houses of worship following the enforcement of the Movement Control Order 3.0 beginning 12 May until 7 June 2021, to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

As the National Unity Ministry recently drafted and released the latest SOP for non-Muslim houses of worship under MCO 3.0, our Bureau will facilitate to convey and promote the relevant SOP to non-Muslim bodies and their respective adherents across the country via various channels.

Experiences from the past teach us that Covid-19 cases and clusters have stemmed from places of worship and religious ceremonies. Thus, we cannot take this issue lightly.

It must be stressed that the main goal of the authorities in formulating a stringent SOP is not to issue compounds nor deliberately create difficulties. The SOP intends to prevent the spread of Covid-19, so that our nation may overcome this pandemic as early as possible, and people’s daily lives and the economy may return to what the norm was before.

The National Unity Ministry’s SOP includes restricting the number of attendees whereby the number of adherents must not exceed 50 people for houses of worship that can accommodate more than 1,000 devotees, while 20 people for those with a capacity of fewer than 1,000 worshippers.

The times for religious / prayer activities are divided into two sessions, from 6am to 2pm and 4pm to 10pm. The management bodies must also carry out sanitisation works for 30 minutes before and after the religious / prayers activities have been conducted.

The government does not encourage senior citizens and children to attend religious/prayer activities, while physical contacts, religious processions and gatherings after the worship session concludes are prohibited.

Nevertheless, compliance of the basic SOP is required as well, including scanning My Sejahtera, maintaining a physical distancing of at least 1metre and wearing face masks.

The war against this invisible enemy requires all of us to cooperate with each other. Together, we can break the chains of infections and triumph!

Cally Ting
MCA Ethnic Relations and Religious Affairs Bureau Chairperson

-MCA online-