KUALA LUMPUR: Sports fans will soon be allowed to watch their favourite games at the stadiums under a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the new ruling would be implemented on April 1 with two Malaysian Football League games as proof of concept to test the effectiveness of the spectator management protocol.
Among the SOP are tickets to be sold online; a minimum of 1.5m to 2m distance between spectators; only existing stalls in the stadium allowed to operate; and organised entry and exit points.
"The Youth and Sports Ministry has proposed a set of SOP on the matter during the Nasional Security Council (NSC) technical meeting on Tuesday (March 16).
"After the recommendation and risk assessment conducted by the Health Ministry, the NSC has agreed to allow spectators at the stadium for sports events," he told at a press conference today.
Ismail Sabri said spectators would be allowed to be in stadiums in areas under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
"Ten per cent of the spectators' capacity or 2,000 people (whichever is lower) is allowed at CMCO areas while 25 per cent of spectators' capacity or 8,000 people (whichever is lower) is allowed at RMCO areas.
"However, the organisation of all tournaments with the presence of spectators are subjected to permission of the Youth and Sports Ministry," he said.
He said at the same time, the Youth and Sports Ministry, NSC and Health Ministry would monitor and assess the protocol compliance particularly on the movement of spectators when entering and the exiting the venue.
Ismail Sabri added that the spectator management SOP was available on Youth and Sports Ministry and NSC websites.