Level of MCO compliance rises to 95 per cent - Ismail Sabri

PUTRAJAYA,  March 24 -- The level of public compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) has risen to 95 per cent, but there is a trend of people returning to the capital city from their hometowns.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the high level of MCO compliance was a result of the integrated cooperation between the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Armed Forces, RELA and state local authorities.

“However, there is a trend showing that the people who left for their hometowns before the MCO took effect (on March 18) are now returning to the city and other major towns with the hope to return to work. I really hope they will not do that as advised before.

“Please remain at your respective hometowns,” he told a press conference after the meeting of the Special Ministerial Committee on the MCO here today.

Ismail Sabri said to prevent that from happening, the police had set up roadblocks at 23 toll plazas nationwide and those who were trying to leave their hometowns and get into the highways would be advised to turn back and stay put until the MCO is lifted.

The minister said legal action may be taken against those who disobey police orders and advice.

“At this stage, the police may also change their approach by no longer giving advice, but taking legal action against those who obstruct police officers from discharging their duties, and also against those who refuse or fail to obey police orders,” he said.

So far, he said the police had received 695 reports, opened 46 investigation papers and arrested 28 people in regard to non-compliance with the MCO.

Apart from that, Ismail Sabri said police and military personnel would also be deployed to monitor and control public movement at banks and automated teller machines (ATM) during payday for civil servants tomorrow and for private sector later this week.

He said it was to ensure that the public would still heed the one-meter social distancing advice to prevent COVID-19 infection.

“I call on everybody not to rush to the bank or ATM. We will have police and military personnel at the bank to ensure that the people would observe social distancing while making cash withdrawals.

“The banks will also decide how many people will be allowed in the bank at any one time so that social distancing can be implemented. So, I hope the public who want to make cash withdrawal will obey the instructions given by bank officials, auxiliary police, or even the police and military personnel,” he said.

The MCO is currently in force from March 18 to 31 to curb the spread of COVID-19  infection in the country. The disease had so far claimed 15 lives in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA