Senior minister for security Hishammuddin Hussein said the proposal was being made to protect the mental health needs of the people.

“Even if we are still stuck in Phase 1, on the issue of mental health, we can look at some safe activities like going to the park, looking at night markets, which are open air, as these are the things we are considering (for relaxation),” he said at a media conference today, his first since taking over from Ismail Sabri Yaakub.

However, a decision on the proposed relaxation had not been made pending the views of health experts, he said.

Commenting on the relaxation for travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated parents to visit their children aged 18 and below, Hishammuddin said the decision was made based on the mental well-being of the families, who had been under an interstate travel ban for months.

He said a similar relaxation for unmarried children to visit their parents could not be implemented as there are too many people involved, and therefore carrying a higher risk.

“Initially, we are only allowing parents worried about their children aged 18 and below who have been living separately for so long. Let us allow them to meet. This is a decision not based on economics or health as it concerns the position of their mental health.

“If this is successful and does not lead to a rise in Covid-19 cases, then we could consider extending it to those who are not married,” he said.