KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysians should not move about within their vicinity except for special purposes or essential activities such as buying food or seeking healthcare, and will need police permission when they travel from one state to another over the next two weeks, the government said in a set of new regulations gazetted on Wednesday (March 18).

These new regulations, known as the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, are applicable during the nationwide lockdown from March 18 until March 31.

The order by Malaysian Health Minister Adham Baba states that no persons are to "make any journey from one place to another" within a state or federal territories except for the following reasons:

• To perform any official duty

• To buy, supply or deliver food or daily necessities

• To seek healthcare or medical services

• To make a journey to and from a limited categories of premises, including any premises which provides essential services, premises involved in the food supply chain, and premises selling food and beverages through drive-through, takeaway and delivery

• Or any other special purposes that may be permitted by the authorities.

NO GATHERINGS, EXCEPT FOR SMALL FUNERALS

Beyond this strict list of when Malaysians can move about within the respective state or federal territories they are in, the new regulations also stated that no one is allowed to gather or be involved in any gathering, regardless of whether it is for religious, sports, recreational, social or cultural purposes.

However, the regulations also said funeral ceremonies can be held if the number of those attending is kept to a minimum.

POLICE PERMISSION TO CROSS STATE BORDERS

The new regulations also stated no one is to travel from one infected local area to another infected local area — or in other words, from one state to another — without the “prior written permission of a police officer in charge of a police station”. MALAY MAIL