Phase 2 began on June 18, 11:59 pm.

Holland Village crowded

As phase 2 allowed for gatherings of up to five people and dining-in, many rushed to do so on the night of June 19, which happened to be a Friday.

While safe-distancing measures are still in place, there have been several Facebook and Instagram posts showing crowds of people at Holland Village, with one particularly viral photo featuring a long queue of people.

Some of the patrons were not wearing masks, and they also did not appear to keep a safe distance from other groups.

Other photos on social media showed the apparent crowds in Holland Village.

Masagos responds

In a Facebook post on June 19, environment and water resources minister Masagos Zulkifli said that he understands there have been crowds gathering in other areas as well as Holland Village.

He assured that the government will step up patrols of nightspots, and will take enforcement actions against operators and individuals who breach safe distancing measures.

"Observing the spirit of the law is as important as adhering to the letter of the law," Masagos said. 

"As Gan Kim Yong put it — we can fool the rules, but we cannot fool the virus."

Masagos mentioned that Covid-19 remains a threat and that the public should continue to practise safe-distancing measures.

He also reminded the public to put their mask back on after eating and drinking and minimising physical interaction and the duration of the meeting as much as possible.

"By maintaining the good habits that we have been practising during the circuit breaker period and in Phase 1, we can create a COVID-safe environment for everyone, as we go about our daily lives", Masagos said.

You can see his post here: