Covid-19: RMCO Regulations Amended
01 July 2020
- Water theme park and water park activities;
- Swimming pool activities (other than swimming pool activities in a swimming pool in a private residence and in a swimming pool for private use in accommodation premises under the Tourism Industry Act 1992) except for the training of national athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020;
- Activities in karaoke centres, children’s playground in shopping malls and family entertainment centres;
- Fitting of clothes, using fitting rooms in clothes stores, trying on fashion accessories in stores and providing cosmetic testers in stores; and
- Reflexology and massage activities in a health and beauty establishment.
The Amendment Regulations also amend the activity listed in paragraph 5 of the Schedule of the RMCO Regulations, namely ‘outbound tour activities by a citizen and inbound tour activities involving foreign tourists entering Malaysia’ by inserting the words ‘except foreign tourists from countries specified by the Minister’ after the word ‘Malaysia’.
The following activities that are retained in the Schedule to the RMCO Regulations continue to be prohibited-
- Organising sports event and tournament, and sports event and tournament;
- Contact sports;
- Activities in pubs and night clubs, except restaurant business in pubs and night clubs;
- Cruise ship activities; and
- Any activity with many people in attendance at a place making it difficult to carry out social distancing and to comply with the directions of the Director General of Health.
The amendments to the RMCO Regulations are welcomed and is a clear indication that Malaysia is well on the way towards reopening its economy and activities, subject to compliance with the relevant standard operating procedures.
The amendment to paragraph 5 of the Schedule to the RMCO Regulations will be most welcomed by the travel and tourism sector as it is a clear sign that the Government is preparing to welcome the return of foreign tourists from countries to be specified by the Minister.