Updated SOPs For FMCO: Jogging Allowed Within Neighbourhood & More

Amendments to existing FMCO COVID-19 SOPs

It has been more than a week since Malaysia’s phase 1 of the MCO 3.0 or Full Movement Control Order (FMCO). As SOPs are constantly updated, it may be hard to keep track of the changes. Here are the new changes that the government announced on 7th June 2021 that you should know.

Update: On 11th June 2021, the government announced that the FMCO will be extended till 28th June 2021 with no changes in SOPs. Read more here.

Jogging is now only allowed within your neighbourhood

updated sops fmco - police jogger
Image credit: Polis (IPD) Shah Alam

If you are a frequent jogger who visits parks outside your residential neighbourhood then it’s important to take note that from 7th June 2021, you can only jog or carry out individual non-contact sports within a 10km radius of your house.

8 people in Ampang Jaya have recently been fined by the police for breaching this SOP. On Monday, The Malay Mail quoted Ampang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Farouk Eshak that people who jog outside their residential area or neighbourhood can be subjected to legal action.

The report also said that enforcement officers have also been given permission to check the ID cards of joggers to prove that “they live in a particular area” during inspection, so you should always bring along yours when you head out for exercise.

Cycling is allowed, but not as exercise or recreational activity

Image credit: Zol M/Flickr

Updated SOPs for Covid-19 under the FMCO also specify that cycling is no longer permitted as an exercise or recreational activity from 7th June 2021. The only form of cycling allowed now is for those who travel to work.

Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdul Khalid Othman told The Sun Daily on Monday that those who fail to adhere to this SOP “will be issued a compound”.

He also said that cycling as a form of exercise or recreational activity such as riding “individually or in groups” remains prohibited until further notice. So, be sure to not go on a trip like you used to during CMCO periods.

Grocery stores are now allowed to sell non-essential items

Image credit: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

Mohd Rabin Basir, the director-general of the National Security Council (MKN) clarified to Sin Chew Daily that all products at grocery and convenience stores, including non-essential items, can now be sold to customers during the FMCO period.

“We allow grocery and convenience stores to sell any in-store goods, that is not a problem,” he said.

This follows as netizens raised their concerns on why shops are not allowed to sell certain items, especially those that fall under the non-essential category.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also raised a similar concern on his Facebook page questioning why shops are not allowed to sell stationeries and electronic items although factories are still operating as usual.