KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — All businesses allowed to operate within the movement control order (MCO) may close at 10pm from tomorrow instead of 8pm currently, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

The senior defence minister said the decision was to streamline enforcement operations, citing confusion among businesses after the government previously allowed food outlets to open until 10pm.

"So after doing another risk assessment by the Ministry of Health (MOH), we agree to extend business hours for business sectors allowed to operate. They can operate until 10pm,” Ismail announced in his press briefing today.

Today, the Health Ministry reported 4,094 new Covid-19 infections or 1,109 more cases than when the renewed MCO began on January 13.

"Previously, after the Ministry of Health (MoH) carried out a risk assessment, the government agreed to extend operating hours of restaurants, food trucks, roadside hawkers, food courts and food delivery services until 10.00pm.

"MoH has also conducted continuous risk assessment and, to coordinate operating hours, the government also agreed to extend the hours of all previously approved business operations such as supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, shops selling daily necessities, animal food stores, laundromats as well as eyewear stores and others until 10pm starting tomorrow, January 29, 2021.

"This standardisation is also to facilitate the authorities’ monitoring and enforcement,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said that the government has also agreed to allow forestry and timber sectors as well as the supply chain involving logging operations to operate beginning tomorrow.