CORONAVIRUS | Following the increase of Covid-19 cases in the country, various parties have postponed or cancelled their programmes as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the epidemic.

On Friday (March 13), Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the government had decided that all assemblies, including international meetings, and sports, social and religious events be postponed or cancelled until April 30.

He said the decision would be reviewed once the Covid-19 situation improves.

Here are some of the programmes called off or suspended so far:

• In SELANGOR, the parade and guard-of-honour inspection in conjunction with the opening of the 14th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was cancelled today. Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the cancellation was made at the behest of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to shorten the opening ceremony and prevent a large gathering.
  
  
• In PERAK, Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) director Datuk Mohd Yusop Husin said any form of 'Echo Training' activities by Jemaah Tabligh was prohibited in mosques and surau. Mohd Yusop, however, said this was only a temporary ban to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
  
  
• In NEGERI SEMBILAN, Negeri Sembilan Mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad said all activities at mosques and suraus in the state, including obligatory prayers in groups and Friday prayers, are cancelled for 10 days from tomorrow until March 26. All mosques and surau have been advised to carry out cleaning and decontamination operations as a precautionary measure to prevent infection.
  
  
• Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in Nilai, meanwhile, is providing virtual lectures for sessions with more than 200 students. USIM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman said lecture sessions, tutorials and face-to-face workshops of fewer than 200 students should also be conducted with caution, such as no shaking of hands or touching and practising proper coughing and sneezing etiquette.
  

• In PUTRAJAYA, the Youth and Sports Ministry’s Registrar of Youth Organisations has advised all youth bodies registered under the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 to postpone their annual general meetings (AGMs) until April 30.

• In PENANG, the state government has launched a “Penang Fights Covid-19” campaign by creating an official Facebook page to disseminate verified information to the community. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the government was committed to ensuring the latest information and details are efficiently, systematically and effectively transmitted to the public.

• Penang Mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said the Jamek Benggali Mosque in Lebuh Leith, which is the Northeast District Regional Tabligh Centre, is closed for three days effective today for disinfection to be carried out to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as instructed by the Northeast District Health Office.

• The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has cancelled 30 programmes and activities involving public gatherings from yesterday until April 30. It also decided to freeze all its employees’ overseas travel plans as well as carry out efforts to raise awareness about Covid-19.