PUTRAJAYA: The government has given the go-ahead for local sports matches and tournaments to be held, sans spectators, as well as the reopening of sports commercial facilities and academies.
Senior Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said however, they were subjected to stringent Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and regulations.
"The special ministerial meeting on the Movement Control Order implementation has agreed to this, following a presentation by the Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican on the reopening of sports and recreational activities' phases three and four.
"Among those allowed are the organisation of competitions and tournaments without spectators for non-contact sports like motoring and individual sports starting from July 15.
"They include motoring sports held at the Sepang International Circuit and other local circuits, badminton singles, tennis singles, gymnastic singles, springboard diving and chess tournaments," he told a press conference today.
Also allowed from July 15 are matches and tournaments for comtact sports such as football, rugby, basketball as well as martial arts sports such as karate, silat, taekwondo and others.
Operators for commercial sports facilities, futsal courts and academies are also allowed to resume operations from July 15.
The ministerial meeting had also agreed that only local sports competitions and tournaments, without spectators, were allowed.
Ismail Sabri said this covered team contact sports such as football, rugby, hockey, takraw, basketball and squash beginning Aug 15.
Among those involved are the Super League and the Malaysian Football League, the Takraw League, the Malaysian Hockey League and the Malaysian Rugby League.
"However, sports competitions and tournaments must be organised in a controlled environment by premises operators and organisers, with general SOPs on management, pre-tournament and organisation adhered to."
Among the requirements include ensuring players download the MySejahtera mobile application, body temperature and symptoms screening; limit on the number of participants and officials according to the size of premises, disinfection of equipment after each use, as well as online or phone booking.
"All SOPs will be uploaded by the National Security Council and the Youth and Sports Ministry soon."
Ismail Sabri stressed that tournaments and competitions were only restricted to local sports without spectators and mass gatherings.
Participation of foreigners remains prohibited for now.