KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Putrajaya today announced that the solemnisation of marriages in mosques will be allowed, but with only 20 attendees, excluding the qadi (marriage official) and a witness, in movement control order (MCO) states, from tomorrow.

However, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that related social events, including wedding receptions, still cannot be held in MCO states.

"The wedding ceremony (solemnisation) is allowed in religious offices and mosques with a maximum of 20 people present, excluding the bride and witness.

"However, it is still subject to the approval of the respective state religious authorities,” he said during a National Security Council (NSC) press briefing today.

For states observing a conditional movement control order (CMCO), the ceremony is also allowed at half capacity based on a premises’ size.

Meanwhile, for states observing a recovery movement control order (RMCO), the ceremony is also allowed, but in compliance with strict standard operating procedures (SOP).

He added that the Ministry of National Unity will provide a separate brief on officiation ceremonies for non-Muslim marriages.

The current MCO, which was to end tomorrow, has been extended for another two weeks, until March 4, for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor and Penang.

All other states, except for Perlis and Sarawak, will be placed under CMCO according to the same time frame.

Sarawak is the only state under CMCO currently. It started on February 15 and was scheduled to end on March 1, when the rest of the country was placed under restrictions that banned inter-state and inter-district travel.

The extension of these new restriction conditions nationwide is set to start on February 19 and end on March 4, except for Sarawak.