GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has announced that the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) will not be implemented tomorrow as announced by Putrajaya earlier this week.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yew said that instead, Penang will implement the Penang Gradual Recovery Strategy (PGRS), which will reopen sectors of the economy in stages from May 8 to 13.
He said that the existing MCO would still be in place till then.
"The relaxing of the MCO cannot be done drastically without plans. The safety and health of Penangites is the priority of the Penang government.
"The Penang Security Council Committee (JKKN), which convened this morning, has decided to implement the 'Penang Gradual Recovery Strategy' based on adaptations to ensure the health and safety of the people of Penang, and the continuity of the state's economic sectors," he said in a live Facebook conference from his office today.
PGRS has been divided into three phases – Phase 1 (Preparation Phase) between May 4 to 7, Phase 2 (Familiarisation Phase) between May 8 to 12 when only certain sectors and offices will be allowed to open, and Phase 3 (Reopening Phase) from May 13 onwards which will see the reopening of remaining sectors and companies.
Under Phase 1, Chow said that all sectors are only allowed to do preparatory work to comply with the SOP.
"The four-day period is for the state government to come up with comprehensive guidelines especially on enforcement aspects while also giving time to employers, employees, parents, and others to plan," he added.
The sectors allowed to operate under Phase 2 beginning this Friday are transportation (land and air), food industry (only for takeaways), professional services, manufacturing, finance, gas, mining and quarrying, electrical and electronics, agriculture, fisheries, farming, communication, information technology, e-commerce, environment, water supply and Konsortium (IWK) sewerage, construction, law (guaman), security, cleaning, strata management, community credit and mortgages, hotels, retail, government offices, local councils and government-linked agencies.
Sectors to be allowed to operate under Phase 3 are sports, unity (perpaduan), resident associations (rukun tetangga), cooperatives, commodities, forest research, debt management, creative industry, culture and arts.
Chow added that the education sector and social care services such as nurseries will not be allowed to operate for now.
"All the (listed) sectors are allowed to operate from May 13, but must strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures of the Security Council.
"Improvements on the PGRS will be made from time to time," said Chow, adding that further announcements will be made in due time.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the CMCO as part of an exit strategy from the MCO and to restart the economy.