In a statement today, senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that while operating permits had been granted to factories manufacturing food and beverages during the lockdown, this approval is only for factories producing essential items.
“Breweries are not included in this category,” he said.
“The government today agreed that all breweries across the country are to be closed immediately.”
Earlier today, an Amanah Youth leader questioned the government for allowing Carlsberg Brewery to keep its operations running under the nationwide total lockdown – after an approval letter by the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) was widely shared on social media which showed that Carlsberg was allowed to operate under strict SOPs.
A Miti spokesman previously confirmed that breweries are allowed to operate as they fall under the beverages sector listed by the National Security Council (MKN).
Meanwhile, Ismail also announced that several areas in Sarawak and Sabah will come under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) from June 3 to 16 after a spike in Covid-19 cases in the localities.
In Sarawak, the EMCO will be enforced in two localities in Mukah, Kampung Bunut and the Undum anak Anchih longhouse in Sungai Duan, after 41 of the 222 Covid-19 tests recorded in the area returned positive.
He also said the EMCO at the Wun anak Ering longhouse in Tanjung Manis, Mukah, would be extended to June 16 as there were still new cases being recorded. The EMCO at SK Bakerkong in Bakerkong, Tanjung Manis, will end tomorrow as scheduled.
Meanwhile in Sabah, three localities in Kota Belud – Taman Nikmat, Kampung Pirasan and Kampung Dundau – will be under an EMCO after 23 cases were recorded in the area.
An EMCO will also be enforced in Kampung Simpangan, Tuaran, after eight positive cases were detected after 10 were screened.
Ismail also announced the end of the EMCO at Lorong 2, Kampung Kongsi 8 in Tawau tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Ismail said police arrested 684 people yesterday over MCO-related offences.
Of that number, 630 were slapped with compound fines, 45 remanded and nine granted bail.
Among the offences were failing to wear face mask (175), failing to provide material for contact tracing or registration (143) and travelling across districts or states without permission (83).
Regarding mandatory quarantines, Ismail said 216,166 people who arrived through KLIA were screened for Covid-19 from July 24 to May 30 and were placed under quarantine.
Some 2,299 tested positive for Covid-19 and were sent to hospital for treatment, while 204,684 have been allowed to return home.
A total of 9,183 people are undergoing mandatory quarantine.
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