EMCO: Labuan employers warned not to recall employees under EMCO

By Jailani Hassan

LABUAN, Oct 27  -- Labuan police have reminded employers that they could “face the music” if found to have ordered their employees to return to work, especially those from the Saguking Cluster, currently undergoing home-quarantine during the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) period.

The island’s police chief, Supt. Muhamad Farid Ahmad said there had been cases of several individuals from the Saguking Cluster caught red-handed trespassing the police barricade and barbed wire to return to work.

 "We must remind the employers who recall their employees for work despite their settlements being under the EMCO, not to do so.

 "Don’t be selfish (employers) during this trying time…the Labuan police contingent personnel are taking turns to work round the clock to ensuring no individual trespasses the police barricade and barbed wire to return to work," Muhamad Farid told Bernama today.

     He said at least seven police control posts had been set up at all entry points to the two squatter water settlements of Saguking Laut and Sebor Baru, which were being placed under the EMCO from Oct 21 to Nov 3.

"We have added four control posts to the existing three to ensure the surrounding areas of the two water settlements are fully guarded," he added.

     Muhamad Farid said employers found disobeying the directive could be prosecuted under Section 269 of the Penal Code for being negligent which could likely cause the viral infection to spread.

     Labuan, Malaysia's international business and financial centre, which is currently under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) until Oct 30, has recorded 270 COVID-19 cases with two deaths as of Monday.

     -- BERNAMA