The differing instructions in several states regarding opening hours of shops during the two-week period of the Movement Control Order has led to a lot of confusion.

However, Senior Minister Fadillah Yusof, said it is up to the respective state governments to decide on opening hours for stores selling essential goods.

According to Fadillah, the federal government has decided to leave it to the state authorities to decide on such matters.

"It has been decided yesterday that the opening hours of these stores selling essential goods, will be left to the state level to decide.

"That would be under their jurisdiction, through their respective local councils," he told the media conference here today.

Fadillah was answering a question on the differing instructions in several states regarding opening hours of shops.

Several states were seen imposing opening hours of stores in their states, including Pahang where petrol stations in five of its districts had been ordered to shut down from 7pm to 7am.