PETALING JAYA: Eateries and shops must close by 8pm, even during the month of Ramadan, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).

He said the government would not allow operations beyond 8pm, as they did not want people to give "buying food" as an excuse to go out for a prolonged period.

"The time limit will remain the same throughout the movement control order (MCO) period even during Ramadan," he said.

The authorities, however, would allow wet markets to extend operation to 2pm," he said.

Previously wet markets were allowed to open from 6am to noon.

The authorities also allowed public transport to increase operating hours in the evening from 4pm to 10pm.

Previously, it was between 5pm and 10pm.

"During the fasting month, departments usually allow staff to return home about half an hour earlier," he said.

On terawih prayers during MCO, he said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri would announce the standard operating procedure (SOP) pertaining to religious matters.

He also announced that 763 people were detained on Thursday (April 23) for breaching the MCO, compared with 865 cases recorded the previous day, bringing the total number of people detained so far to 18,498.

"I hope the declining trend in the number of individuals detained, as recorded over the last few days, will continue. This is crucial to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission," he said.

Ismail said police, Armed Forces, Rela and other uniformed bodies were working hard to ensure that people would abide by the MCO.

A total of 581,942 vehicles were inspected at 835 roadblocks nationwide on Thursday. Authorities also carried out 41,184 spot checks in 6,658 premises.

Some 3,585 sanitisation operations were carried out at 113 zones, including 30 red zones.

On Tuesday, 253 sanitisation operations were done 79 zones in 13 states, including 39 locations in Johor and 26 in Perak.

Ismail said since April 3,15,880 Malaysians from abroad had been quarantined at 201 centres.

He said a total of 535 Malaysians returned from abroad on Thursday and had been quarantined.

"Since April 17,4, 900 individuals had been allowed to return home after completing their quarantine period.

Ismail also said enhanced MCO would be imposed without prior notice so that people would not "run away".

"For example, two Covid-19 positive individuals ran away from the Selangor Mansion after enhanced MCO was imposed. Police eventually nabbed them," he said.

Ismail said operation centres would be opened in every area put under enhanced MCO.

"People can inform staff at the centre if they need baby formula or any other essential stuff other than the dried food given to affected households.

"If anyone needs medical care, they can seek assistance from Health Ministry personnel on duty at the centre," he said.

Ismail said commercial vehicles were now allowed to undergo routine checks at Puspakom after fixing appointments.

He also said those "stuck" in their hometowns and villages and needed to return to work in cities should make police applications online from April 25 onwards.

"But there is no final decision yet. The Health Ministry, police and National Security Council will discuss first.

"Stringent SOP will be imposed," he said.

As for students stranded in hostels, Ismail said it was less complicated to assess their health status as they had been quarantined for over a month.