KOTA BARU: Barely a week after saying Ramadan bazaars can operate in Kelantan this fasting month, the Kelantan government today announced it will not be allowed.
The latest decision is due to a drastic increase of Covid-19 cases in the state.
The state government said it will not allow terawih prayers or locally known as "Madinah Ramadan" to be held during this fasting month.
Also cancelled are all state government's programmes and the Tilawah programme scheduled for tonight.
Kelantan Local Government, Health and Housing Committee chairman Dr Izani Husin said the decision was made in a special state security subcommittee meeting at the Darul Naim Complex here today.
"Today's meeting was also attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and his deputy Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.
"In this special meeting, we made a drastic decision not to allow Ramadan bazaars from being held statewide as well as terawih prayers normally held at the Sultan Muhammad IV stadium every year.
"The decision was made for the sake of the people and the state government would like to apologise to everyone," he told reporters after the meeting.
Also present were state health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin and state police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat.
Dr Izani said Kelantan recorded a Covid-19 infectivity rate of 1.12 recently.
"The state health department expects the three digit number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the state over the last few days will remain as such in the next one week," he added.
He believed the attitude of taking the standard operating procedures (SOP) for granted among locals contributed to the spike in Covid-19 cases in the state.
"Locals failed to obey the SOPs and their movement looks like nothing is happening. There are large gatherings at almost every corner in the state especially at public places.
"The state health department is facing difficulties in controlling the pandemic nowadays as it is already in our community.
"Therefore, it is our duty to help the authorities in breaking the chain of infection by continuing to adhere to the SOP," he added.