Menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said cases in the state were still under control.

“The wearing of face masks may be made mandatory in government offices and schools, but only if cases increase suddenly.

“We are among the states with the least number of cases,” he told reporters after officiating the Negeri Sembilan Command Centre.

However, masks will be made compulsory during the 75th birthday celebration of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, at Istana Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah on Jan 14.

Aminuddin said Tuanku Muhriz had also proposed that the public should be encouraged to wear face masks when attending events with large crowds.

A similar proposal was put forth by the Melaka state government yesterday. State health and anti-drug committee chairman Dr Akmal Saleh said the mask mandate could be reintroduced in public spaces as well as in closed and crowded areas if there was an increase in Covid-19 cases.

On Monday, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said two Covid-19 variants that were responsible for around 80% of infection cases in China – BA.5.2 and BF.7 – had been identified in the country.

As at Dec 31, there were 4,148 cases involving the BA.5.2 variant, and three cases of the BF.7 variant, he added.