KUALA LUMPUR: Restaurants in areas that are under the Movement Control Order (MCO) will now be allowed to operate until 10pm effective tomorrow.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the extension came following suggestions made to the government to extend the operating hours, currently fixed from 6am to 8pm.
The 10pm closure is also for roadside stalls, food trucks, hawker stalls, mobile food traders, food courts, hawker centres and food kiosks.
He took note of netizens bombarding his social media with comments to extend the operating hours as it was deemed too early for those working to buy food before going home.
He also said that he understood the grouses of eateries which would usually receive higher volume of orders later in the evening, such as burger stalls.
"We listened to both the people and the traders themselves and decided to allow the extension," he said in a press conference today.
The extension for eateries also applies to food deliveries and drive-throughs.
However, the extension does not involve other premises and dine-in is still not allowed.