KUALA TERENGGANU, April 20 — The rate of compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) of several Ramadan bazaars in Terengganu has yet to reach a satisfactory level, said State Local Government, Housing, Health, and Environment Committee chairman Dr Alias Razak.
Dr Alias said monitoring was carried out at several locations, including the Batu Buruk Ramadan bazaar here due to the high number of visitors, especially after 6.30 pm.
He said members of the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) and employees of the local authorities would continue to monitor the situation at these bazaars to ensure visitors and traders follow the SOP set to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We understand that traders want to make a living and people need to buy food, so they will continue to be advised so that there are no more violations of the SOP,” he told reporters here today.
On Friday (April 16), the Tok Adis Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Ibai became the first bazaar to be ordered close for 14 days by the state Health Department due to SOP violations at the location.
A closure notice was issued under Section 18 (1) (f) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).
However, it was allowed to reopen ahead of schedule starting yesterday after the organiser pledged to ensure that visitors and traders would adhere to the SOP set to prevent the COVID-19 transmission.
Dr Alias said monitoring by the state Health Department and local authorities at these Ramadan bazaars was not aimed at finding faults, adding that closure order would be the last resort.
There are a total of 69 Ramadan bazaars in Terengganu with 4,326 stalls operating this Ramadan, of which 22 bazaars are located in Kuala Terengganu, Kemaman (19), Besut (10), Setiu (six), Dungun (five), Marang (five) and Hulu Terengganu (two).
