KUALA LUMPUR:The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has updated the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the sports and recreational sectors.

The KBS said in a statement yesterday that the update involved five general protocols on the individual aspect, management, training, pre-organisation and organisation.

This, it added, was in line with the government’s announcement that several sports and recreational sectors would be allowed to operate from today during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

The protocols will also be a guide for teams taking part in the Malaysia League (M-League), Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and Sepak Takraw League (STL) competitions. The teams are allowed to resume training sessions from Feb 5 using the sports bubble approach.

“The KBS hopes that the sports fraternity will adhere to the procedures and SOP stipulated at all times so as to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and enable sports and recreational activities to be carried out safely,” it said.

Further details on the SOP for the sports and recreational sectors can be obtained at www.kbs.gov.my/sopsukanrekreasi or by contacting the Sports and Recreation SOP Operations Room at 03-887 13585/3246

At the same time, the KBS stressed that thus far all forms of contact sports and recreational activities are not permitted.

The KBS said it was optimistic of continuing efforts to reopen all sports and recreational sectors in the coming phases so as to enable the sectors’ ecosystem to operate based on the SOP set by the National Security Council (MKN).

The government yesterday agreed to allow jogging activities and brisk walking, cycling and exercising limited to two people and carried out in neighbourhood areas only, as well as tennis, badminton and table-tennis (singles events only) and motor-racing (two-wheel and four-wheel).

In addition, other activities permitted are individual training for group sports like football, basketball, hockey and sepak takraw.

-- BERNAMA