KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — E-hailing service providers and express bus operators, planes as well as other public transportation services, may resume their operating hours and passenger capacities from before the movement control order, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He made the announcement in his daily press briefing today.

He said express buses may now operate with full passenger capacity, while e-hailing service drivers may carry passengers according to their vehicle’s legal limits.

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“Today the Ministry of Transport (MOT) had tabled in the ministers special meeting on RMCO execution on several permissions and SOPs on public transportation. The special meeting has decided to allow e-hailing services and taxis to operate without a time limit and the passenger capacity can follow their vehicle capacity.

“Previously e-hailing services and taxis were allowed to only ferry two passengers and operate until 10pm, now we allow them to operate without time limit and capacity not limited to two persons anymore. Perhaps add one more passenger in front, or if they are using a six or seven-seater vehicle, they can take passengers according to the vehicle capacity,” he said.

Ismail Sabri, however, said both drivers and passengers must download the MySejahtera smartphone application and payees must only use cashless transaction methods.

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Face masks are also a mandatory feature for both drivers and passengers, and drivers must sanitise their vehicles before and after ferrying passengers and after their work ends.

“The special meeting also agreed to allow express buses to operate without time limit and at full capacity,” he said adding that the permission was given as express buses also operate at night.

He said bus service providers must register all their passengers’ details via the MySejahtera app or through manual registration, and register their body temperatures.

Face masks are also mandatory for both passengers and drivers throughout the journey, and the bus service providers must also provide face masks, which can be sold to passengers.

“They must also sanitise their buses after their trips.

“For other modes of public transportation such as public buses, ferries, trains and LRT and others, we also allow them to operate at full capacity,” he said.

Ismail Sabri also reminded that passengers in trains must observe social distancing and use hand sanitisers.

“On planes, the meeting also agreed to allow them to operate at full capacity and the precondition is that all the passengers must be recorded and they must wear face masks throughout their journey,” he added.

He also said that carpooling which was previously not allowed and limited to only family members from the same household, is now allowed.