ABPBH not listed under prohibited activities during CMCO – Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR,. The Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) is a creative industry event which is not on the list of activities prohibited during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

As such he said, the organisers of ABPBH did not submit an appeal to organise the event to the National Security Council (MKN) or the NSC Technical Committee which is chaired by him.

“However, since many have voiced their dissatisfaction and are against the event being held, as shared on social media, and as the Communications and Multimedia Minister (Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah) is aware of this, I shall leave it to the ministry (KKMM) to discuss the matter with MKN if there are any changes,” he told a media conference on the development of the Recovery MCO here today.

Earlier several parties have urged for the event to be called off for fear that the physical distancing rule would not be followed although the organisers had assured they would comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) such as the event to be held virtually with no spectators.

“They (entertainment organizers) will probably abide by the SOP as decided by KKMM and MKN earlier which is to adhere strictly that no spectators and only minimum number of crew is allowed, face masks must be worn and the event must be monitored by the police and MOH.

“Should there be any violations, action will be taken against the organisers, that’s how I understand it,” he said.

He said the event is unlike football games that involve physical contact and inter-state movement which was the first to be prohibited under the CMCO SOP as the activity puts players at risk of COVID-19.

In another development, Ismail Sabri said inter-state travel for married couples living apart is allowed during the CMCO period, however this is subject to police approval.

— BERNAMA