Kuala Lumpur: Klang Valley and Melaka will enter Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan, while Kedah will move into Phase 2 from Friday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who announced this today said the decision was made following a risk assessment by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council.
"With Kedah's moving to Phase 2 of the NRP, this mean there will be no states under Phase 1 (with the most restrictions)."
Ismail Sabri expressed his gratitude to the "Malaysian Family", especially state governments, in the management of the pandemic to achieve the targeted infectivity rate of under 1.0.
He said the decision to transition the states was made based on the dip in overall R-naught, recorded at 0.88 for Malaysia yesterday, followed by the declining trend in cases and Covid-19 patients admitted to ICU.
Ismail Sabri said vaccination rates were encouraging with 85.1 per cent of the adult population having been fully vaccinated and 1,217,386 shots administered to adolescents aged 12 to 17 as of Sept 28.
This, he said, was in line with the government's plan to vaccinate as many students as possible before school reopens in October.
"As I have announced on Sept 22, the government will allow interstate travel once 90 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated."
"The government will also allow more economic sectors to resume operations so the people can go back to their lives," he said in a statement, here today.
On the relaxation, Ismail Sabri said the Special Committee on Pandemic Management has among others decided to allow official state and private functions including opening ceremonies and workshops, for states under Phase 2 and 3.
This approval is given upon conditions that their guests are fully vaccinated and the number of attendees do not exceed 50 per cent the venue's capacity, he said.
"Those who are not vaccinated will be made to do (Covid-19 tests through) saliva, or self-test in the presence of the host, or the test has to be verified by a medical practitioner."
Ismail Sabri said that the opening of skills training sector and industrial training centres including vocational colleges, TVET and others in all phases in compliance with SOP were line with the opening of higher learning institutions that would come into effect on Oct 15.
Sports spectators or supporters would also be allowed to be present at sports and recreational venues in Phase 2 to Phase 4 states.
Ismail Sabri said this, however, is subject to the group being completely vaccinated.
"They must wear face masks throughout the event and are not allowed to eat or drink. Children under the age of 18 will not be allowed at the venue."
Ismail Sabri hopes that despite the easing of restrictions the public would continue to follow the SOP.
"The country is now heading towards the endemic phase where we will continue living with the virus under the new norm.
"We need our Malaysian Family to cooperate and have discipline, good hygiene and safety."
Meanwhile Ismail Sabri warned individuals under Home Surveillance Orders to toe the line as they would face strict action if found guilty.
"This (their action) would put the community at risk and jeopardise the government's efforts in managing the pandemic."