KUALA LUMPUR: Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that indoor mask mandate would no longer be enforced with immediate effect,

He said business owners can decide whether to enforce masking inside their premises.

“The health ministry announces that indoor masking is now optional.”

However, he said Malaysians are still encouraged to put on their masks at crowded indoor places such as shopping malls.

However, the minister said people who test positive for COVID-19, public transport (bus, train, taxi, aircraft, factory bus, school bus) passengers, and visitors to medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, dialysis centers, etc., must still put on their masks.

The public are also encouraged to put on masks at crowded public venues such as night markets, stadiums, shopping malls and places of worship.

Individuals with the following conditions should continue to put on their masks: people suffering from fever, cough or flu; high-risk individuals such as senior citizens, people suffering from chronic illnesses and poor immunity as well as pregnant women.