CMCO SOPs: Petrol Stations and Passengers

With so much misinformation and confusing statements from the authorities, who do you really believe when it comes to CMCO SOPs? Let's go over it.

If you've been paying attention to the news lately, especially when it comes to CMCO, you may have noticed that there has been a lot of hubbub surrounding two specific aspects of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place. The first that popped up was regarding vehicular travel with multiple occupants.

The overarching requirement is that only people from the same household are allowed in the same car - but beyond this is where the details become a little tricky. What has been confirmed by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is that passengers can sit anywhere in the car - including the front seat.

If you need to travel with more than two passengers and a driver, you CAN apply with the police for a pass - especially for those that have businesses where you will have colleagues, co-workers, or employees traveling with you. Naturally, these are not for social reasons, so don't expect to get a pass if you're with your friends.

The larger issue of miscommunication came with petrol stations, where different government bodies and authorities had different messages. Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) stated that scanning and temperature checks at petrol stations were required even just for filling petrol at the islands, which sparked intense debates and uproar.

A lot of the anger surrounding this was because that would expose people to more potential contact by having them scan codes and do temperature checks (yes, you can scan a QR code at the pump, but they're unlikely to have temperature scanners at every pump). Eventually, our health ministry released a statement saying it wasn't at all required - and they supersede the police' statement.

Whatever it is you do out there, make sure to stay safe and keep your mask on, as well as sanitize your hands regularly.