MOH, NSC to discuss action on parents who take kids to public places

By Nuradzimmah Daim - May 19, 2020 @ 4:54pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has yet to impose restrictions on parents who insist on taking their children to public places without valid reasons.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said no decision has been made on the matter as it was still being discussed.

"We discussed about parents who bring their children to shopping complexes. So far, there is no SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and regulations (on this).

"(For now), Health director-general (Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah) and I would advise parents against taking their children out on a daily basis.

"There are implications to be taken into consideration if we are to impose prohibitions on this.

"An example is single mothers with small children, who would face difficulties as they might not have anyone to take care for their children if they are to leave them at home.

"And anything could happen; it would also be dangerous to leave children unattended in the vehicle, for example," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Ismail said the Health Ministry and NSC have been asked to delve deeper into the matter.

He said it was more important for everyone to have self-discipline and not endanger the lives and health of their loved ones.

"If our action could endanger our children, then it is better not to bring them along to shopping complexes.

"Covid-19 will always be in our environment, even the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would be around for two, and possibly five years, until a vaccine is discovered.

"If the MCO (Movement Control Order) ends, the existing rules will no longer apply and self-discipline would be the only thing that could protect us.

"We can no longer issue summons then, that's why we continuously advice the public (to adhere to the SOP)."

He said 74 per cent of people surveyed recently wished to celebrate Hari Raya with their family at home and would not be accepting guests.