Updated May 22: EMCO SOPs for the Hulu Kinta Subdistrict

By Mei Kuan

The following is the latest list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Hulu Kinta subdistrict (mukim) covering Ipoh, Lahat, Chemor and Tanjung Rambutan which is placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) as updated on the official website of the National Security Council on May 22.

The SOPs are effective 12.01am of May 22 till 11.59pm of June 4.

The police is in charge of implementing control on areas with local transmissions, with help from the Malaysia Armed Forces (ATM), Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) and The People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA).

1. All residents at the involved area are not permitted to leave their respective houses, with an exception provided for only one representative from each house to purchase necessities at grocery shops within the EMCO area.
2. Public transport services (train, bus, taxi, e-hailing etc) are permitted to operate from 8am till 8pm only at 50% vehicle capacity.
3. No unnecessary movement out of the residential area after 10pm except for cases of emergency or with police permission.
4. Any individual placed under the Home Surveillance Order (HSO) is not permitted to leave the house.
5. Only the sector of essential services is permitted to operate from 8am till 8pm.
6. Permission to work is granted for essential services only or those carrying out government official duties with validation letters from employers or valid worker passes.
7. Individuals involved with government official duties or essential services are permitted to leave and enter the EMCO area with the condition that it is for the purpose of going to and fro work only.
8. Residents, other than those in essential services, are not permitted to leave the EMCO area and are not permitted to work throughout the EMCO period. Employers must obey the rule and allow employees to go on leave or work from home.
9. Restaurants, food shops, food stalls, food trucks, roadside vendors, mobile hawkers, food courts, hawker centres and food kiosks are allowed to operate between 8am till 8pm.
10. The purchase of food is permitted via takeaway, drive through or delivery only. Dine-ins are not allowed. 
11. Grocery shops, convenience stores and shops selling daily necessities are allowed to operate from 8am till 8pm.
12. Hospitals, clinics and medical labs are allowed to operate up to 24 hours or in accordance with licence.
13. Pharmacies, drugstores, veterinary clinics and animal food shops are allowed to operate between 8am till 8pm.
14. Petrol stations are allowed to operate from 8am till 8pm.
15. Wholesale markets (pasar borong) are allowed to operate from 2am till 8am for wet operations (fishes), 8.01am till 11am to close for cleaning and 11.01am till 4pm for vegetables and fruits operations.
16. Public markets (pasar awam) are allowed to operate from 6am till 2pm only.
17. Daily markets (pasar harian), farmers’ markets (pasar tani), night markets (pasar malam), late-night bazaars (bazar larut malam) are not allowed to operate.
18. For cases of emergency such as illness or death, residents are allowed to leave the zone with police approval. Consideration would be provided by the police or Ministry of Health based on a case-to-case basis.
19. All educational institutions to close during the EMCO.
20. Activities of the Islamic religion subject to the state religious authorities.
21. Activities of non-Islamic houses of worship subject to the Ministry of National Unity.
22.  Any form of sport, social, recreational and cultural activities is not permitted.
23. Food supply aid by outsiders such as NGOs/companies/individuals to those in need during the EMCO period are to be handled and distributed by the Kinta District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD) via coordination under the Kinta District Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB).
24. Childcare centres and kindergartens are allowed to operate following the set SOPs by the relevant Ministry or Agency. Parents or guardians sending children to childcare centres are allowed to use vehicles with the number of children passengers following vehicle capacity.
25. Day care centres or rehabilitation centres for the differently-abled (OKU), elderly and others are allowed to operate.

Among the essential services given permission to operate with strict adherence to SOPs are:

1. Banking and finance including pawnbroking / Ar Rahnu, insurance and takaful. Not permitted: Licensed money lending.
2. Water, electrical and energy. For instance, Perak Water Board (LAP), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), independent power plants and contractors / subcontractors officially appointed by LAP / TNB.
3. Port and airport. For instance, Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (domestic / cargo flights etc)
4. Post and courier. For instance, Pos Laju, J&T, DHL, GDEX etc.
5. Fuel and lubricant. (For instance, petrol stations)
6. Healthcare. For instance, clinical labs, registered optometrists, physiotherapy, dialysis centres, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, drugstores. Movement to obtain COVID-19 vaccine injection is allowed. Not permitted: Traditional medicines, reflexology and acupuncture.
7. Security and defence. For instance, police, Malaysia Armed Forces (ATM), Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) and The People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), Fire & Rescue Department (JBPM), Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), volunteer firemen, safety control companies etc.
8. Food preparation, items of daily necessities including hardware. Not permitted: daily markets (pasar harian), farmers’ markets (pasar tani), night markets (pasar malam), late-night bazaars (bazar larut malam), clothing shops inside and outside of supermarkets (pasaraya).
9. Veterinary and animal food. Not permitted: Animal salon and hotel services.
10. Broadcasting, information and telecommunication (telco). For instance, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), broadcasting companies, telco companies (centres and maintenance only), contractors / subcontractors with official appointments, computer and phone repair shops (repair only), shops selling sim cards and top ups – internet data, call data and broadband. Not permitted: shops selling phones, phone accessories, computers such as phone kiosks at Greentown Mall and Yik Fong. If mixed services are involved such as telco premises which sell and repair phones, only the repair service is permitted.)
11. Solid waste management and sewage.
12. E-commerce. For instance, item packaging and delivery services. Not permitted: Face-to-face services.
13. Automotive repair and spare parts. For example, vehicle repair / service workshops. Not permitted: Vehicle accessories shops (car wash and vehicle exhibition etc).
14. Public transport including e-hailing. Only within the EMCO area.
15. Food, beverage and parcel delivery (parcel-hailing). Only within the EMCO area.
16. Critical repairs, maintenance and construction works. Requires validation of local authorities (PBT). For instance, roof repair due to a storm.
17. Fishery, farming, agriculture, livestock and all sectors related to the food chain.
18. Legal and judiciary. For instance, courts (except face-to-face services) and legal firms.
19.  Printing services, books and stationeries.
20. Manufacturing sector with strict SOPs. For instance, industrial services, electric / electronic (factories), medical (factories), mineral materials and any industry linked to the chain of essential services.

Note: Capacity of employee attendance for the private sector including operation and management is only limited to 60% at a time.

Non-essential services which are not allowed to operate:

1. Laundries / self-service launderettes
2. Clothing and sewing / textile / carpets / wedding boutiques
3. Vehicle accessories, vehicle wash / detailing, vehicle exhibition
4. Vape / cigarette / tobacco / alcoholic drinks
5. Massage, spa and reflexology
6. Haircut, hairstyling, hair salons, beauty / makeup centres
7. Furniture / metal (iron, aluminium etc) and scrap
8. All types of accessories and decorations
9. Lottery agencies, gambling premises, nightclubs, family entertainment centres and cinemas
10. Cyber cafes, games / hobbies (indoor and outdoor), game consoles, game arcades, theme parks
11. Sports and recreational equipment / facilities / premises (public parks, playgrounds and field)
12. Hotel and boarding
13. Photography / videography / creative industry
14. Renovations of buildings / houses / premises / non-critical construction projects
15. Design / interior design / graphic design / landscape / decorative plants / flower arrangements
16. Any economic activity other than those listed as essential services.

Negative list – list of activities which are not permitted:

1. Activities at night clubs or pubs, cinemas, karaoke and busking are not permitted.
2. All sports and recreational activities are not permitted. Public parks to close.
3. All tourism activities into, out of and within the EMCO area are not permitted.
4. All official and non-official ceremonies by governmental or private parties, or any form of social reception are not permitted.
5. Any form of seminar, course, training, class, educational activity or face-to-face learning is not permitted.
6. Any activities which may result in many people present at a spot to the point of making physical distancing difficult.

View the original PDF for SOPs here.

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