KUALA LUMPUR: Wearing face masks will be made compulsory for those on public transports and in crowded public areas from Aug 1 as the authorities work to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.
Senior Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to RM1,000.
He said the Covid-19 infection trend in the country seems to be on the rise, although at a minimal increase.
The Health Ministry, he said, had reported a decline in the level of compliance by individuals and business premises with the standard operating procedures (SOP), including on public transports such as the LRT and KTM trains.
"People are not observing social distancing or using face masks on public transports. The SOP that should be practiced in public areas, especially in enclosed spaces, are also not being complied to by certain quarters.
"Therefore, the government has decided to make using face masks compulsory effective Aug 1 on public transports and crowded public areas.
"Members of the public are allowed to use cloth face coverings, but they must be stitched in accordance with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) specifications for homemade masks," he said during a press conference here today.
Ismail Sabri said the decision to make wearing masks mandatory was made following reports of new clusters and as per the Health Ministry's advice.
The Health Ministry, he said, would release the specifications for the cloth masks.
Wearing of face masks and social distancing, he said, were two essential practices that would help break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.