A day after the government announced that gyms and futsal centers located in areas affected by the current Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) are allowed to reopen, fitness junkies have another reason to celebrate.
Follow strict SOPs
Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has just announced that public parks in the Federal Territories can now reopen to the public, Malay Mail reported.Annuar made the announcement via a Tweet on Sunday (18 October):
SOP PKPB membenarkan aktiviti bersukan tertentu.Padang Golf di buka.Gym dibuka.Tapi public park di tutup.JKKN WP selepas konsultasi dgn MKN KKM memutuskan TAMAN AWAM DI WP boleh di buka dgn syarat ada kawalan pematuhan SOP. Memberi peluang utk aktiviti riadhah yg dibenar shj.
— Annuar Musa (@AnnuarMusa) October 18, 2020
The decision was made after a discussion with the Health Ministry and the National Security Council (MKN), Annuar said.
Despite the reopening of public parks and golf courses, Annuar warned that Malaysians would have to follow the strict SOPs laid out by the government or risk facing stern action.
“CMCO SOP allows certain sports. Golf courses are open. Gyms are open. But public parks are closed.
"JKKN WP, after consultation with MKN KKM, decided that Public Parks in FT can be opened with the condition that there are SOP compliance controls. Give opportunity for allowed recreation activities only,” he wrote in the tweet.
The U-turn came as quite a surprise as the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said on Wednesday (14 October) that all public parks and sports facilities under their jurisdiction will be closed during the entire CMCO period, which is scheduled to end on 27 October.
We honestly do not know what made the authorities have a change of heart, but we guess that you can now go take a walk in the park whenever you feel like it.