KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Banks will no longer be limited to opening their automated teller machines (ATMs) between 8am and 8pm starting tomorrow, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

However, the defence minister issued a reminder for social distancing guidelines to be maintained.

"Therefore, the government decided that the ATM operation hours, which previously operated from 8am till 8pm, can now operate just like before the time the movement control order (MCO) was introduced,” he added. 

In April, Ismail Sabri had announced that ATMs will no longer be open for 24 hours.

He said this was necessary as many people were still going out late at night using the excuse that they need to get to the ATMs.

"We’ve been notified that due to these ATM machines being operational 24 hours, many are going out at night on the pretext of an emergency.

"These people are breaking the MCO rules, so the government has decided to only allow ATMs to operate from 8am to 8pm,” he said then.