IPOH: All Merdeka Day Convoys must first obtain approval from the National Security Council (NSC), says Khairul Ridzuan Mat Said.

       The state NSC director said that while people can still celebrate National Day, all must adhere to the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

       “We understand that many want to organise convoys in conjunction with National Day. However, since we are still in the middle of the pandemic, all convoys must have permission from the NSC and the police,” he said.

       Khairul Ridzuan said this after attending the National Day celebration with the members of the media at Sultan Nazrin Muizzudin Shah complex at Jalan Raja Musa Mahadi here on Monday (Aug 30).

       He said all applications will be checked and approved accordingly.

       “We don’t have the exact figures but we have received several applications that we need to check case by case first. Right now, the Covid-19 cases in Perak are staggering between 800 and 1,000 new cases a day, so we have to be mindful,” said Khairul Ridzuan.

       “We wouldn’t be able to approve all applications and our main focus goes to the government agencies as well as those who have completed their vaccinations,” he added.

       He added that while the public is not being restricted from celebrating National Day on Tuesday (Aug 31), all SOPs must be followed as Malaysia is still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       On Aug 29, Perak recorded more than 1,200 Covid-19 cases and has recorded a cumulative total of 65,745 cases since March last year.