Govt to review ban on sports and recreational activities in MCO areas, says Reezal Merican - The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: The decision to ban sports and recreational activities in movement control order (MCO) areas will be re-evaluated, said the Youth and Sports Minister.

In a statement on Friday (May 7), Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said he will put forward suggestions on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sports activities during the MCO.

“The minister will raise a few proposals from the ministry concerning more prudent approaches towards sports and recreational activities during the MCO.

“These will be reconsidered in the National Security Council special meeting this evening, ” he said in the statement.

Reezal Merican said the ministry has taken note of the feedback on the sports and recreational activities SOP for MCO areas.

“The ministry is always committed and consistent about the perspective that sports is not just about the activity, but involves a larger ecosystem, ” he added.

Earlier, the NSC announced that all sports and recreational activities in MCO areas will not be allowed for the next two weeks, including activities at commercial facilities, public facilities and fields.

The move was met with criticism by many, including medical experts like former Universiti Malaya medical faculty dean Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman and Health Ministry national advisor for infectious diseases Dr Christopher Lee.

Prof Dr Adeeba had said the risk of getting Covid-19 outdoors is about 18 times lower than indoors, appealing for the authorities to allow the rakyat to “continue to jog, cycle, play football or any other outdoor sports”.

Dr Lee appealed for science to guide policies, adding that “risk of outdoor spread is low” and that there has been no major cluster linked to outdoor exercise and non-contact sports.

However, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal defended the move, saying that an assessment was made by the authorities before deciding on the ban.

“As sports enthusiasts of course we are saddened by this restriction, but I’m pretty sure the Health Ministry and the NSC have deployed all necessary scientific tools and dataset before arriving at this decision.

“Hopefully things will get better, ” he said in a tweet on Thursday (May 6) night.