He said face masks will continue to be worn, especially in enclosed areas, because experts say it is one of the best ways to protect against the virus.

Khairy told a press conference at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh today that Malaysia’s position was different from that of other countries like those in the European Union, the UK and the US, which no longer enforce the wearing of face masks.

Watch the video here.

Asked when he expected the use of face masks to stop being mandatory, he jokingly answered: “We must ask the virus.”

Khairy urged Muslims who perform their tarawih prayers at mosques to continue wearing their face masks properly.

He also urged premise owners and employers to upgrade their ventilation systems to significantly help reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections.

He was visiting hospitals in Perak to view their medical facilities. Besides the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, he visited the Batu Gajah Hospital.

Malaysia began transitioning to the endemic phase on April 1.