Preschools, kindergartens to reopen on July 1 - Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15  -- The government has agreed to reopen preschools and kindergartens from July 1,  said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the opening as well as the related standard operating procedure (SOP) were tabled by the Education Ministry (KPM) at the special ministerial meeting today.

He added that the move involved 6,216 preschools under KPM and 7,887 private preschools as well as 1,781 kindergartens under the National Unity Ministry and another 8,530 kindergartens under the Rural Development Ministry.

However, the detailed SOP on the opening would be announced by KPM soon, he said in the daily media conference here today.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the special meeting today agreed to allow all mosques and suraus in Federal Territories to operate except those in red zones.

He said the stipulated SOP is one third of the mosque and surau capacity as well as the need to record members of the congregation and to check their body temperature before being allowed in while mosques and suraus in other states would be subject to the decision of the respective religious authorities.

For non-Muslim house of worship, he said the meeting also agreed to allow 5,230 houses of worship to operate nationwide compared to 171 earlier.

“Non-Muslim houses of worship are allowed to operate as usual with the presence of one third of the actual capacity depending on the area of the place concerned,” he said. 

However, he said the matter is still subject to the approval of the respective state governments and the SOP could also be modified according to the state.

Apart from that, Ismail Sabri said the discussion today also involved tourism sub-sector SOP such as spa, wellness and foot massage, 'Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE)’ and 'Travel and Trade Fairs' in the country.

In principle, he said the special meeting has no objection with the SOP proposal but the matter would be brought to the National Security Council special meeting for approval.

-- BERNAMA