Filming activities, which have been put on hold since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March, will be allowed to resume after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

According to Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, the greenlight was given by the National Security Council in a meeting held yesterday.

"Last week, after consultation with various associations, we presented to the ministers' meeting on COVID-19, where almost half of the cabinet members were in the meeting.

"We presented the application to allow filmmakers either to shoot drama, documentary or advertisement to be allowed to do their shootings.

"So now, they are allowed to do their shootings with a standard operating procedure (SOP), beginning after Hari raya," Saifuddin was quoted telling by Bernama, during the Harith Iskander Stay Home Live Facebook Episode entitled “The Future of Live Entertainment” post-conditional movement control order (CMCO) last night.

However, the clearance for live programmes is still under scrutiny by a special ministerial committee, he added, as industry players were asking the authority for guidelines.

“For now, there needs to be assessment for a bigger number of people, in a hall, or places where people meet to watch movie or show.

“We have not got the decision but we have made our case that at least as soon as possible, we need to have an indication on when the live event will be allowed. At least they need three months of preparation after the clearance. We have made the representation and now we must wait for the committee to make their decision."

The country is currently under the CMCO, where almost all business activities were allowed to resume, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has infected 6,978 people and killed 114, in Malaysia, as of yesterday.

Globally, the infection and death tally has surpassed 4.98 million, and over 324,000, respectively.


Source: Bernama
Photo source: Astro Awani