EMCO extended in Amber Court, Muar Rehabilitation Centre

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 -- The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) scheduled to end tomorrow in Amber Court Apartment in Jalan Genting, Bentong has been extended to Jan 20. 

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made after the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that some close contacts still need to undergo the second screening test and there was a high risk of infection in the locality.

"So far, 1,180 COVID-19 screening tests have been conducted and out of that number, 454 positive cases have been recorded," he told a press conference here today.

Ismail Sabri said the government also agreed to extend the EMCO at the Muar Rehabilitation Centre, Johor until Jan 20 based on the advice and risk assessment of the MOH.

“MOH has conducted 827 COVID-19 screenings and detected 40 positive cases. MOH also confirmed that there is still an increase in daily positive cases and there are 38 samples still awaiting the results," he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said foreign workers who were not sent by their employers to undergo COVID-19 screening would have their work permits terminated and deemed illegal to work in the country.

He said the matter was discussed with the Immigration Department to ensure that employers continue to comply with the instructions issued under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).

Starting Dec 1, 2020, the government has instructed all foreign workers, especially in six states, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan to undergo COVID-19 screening test which the costs will be borne by their respective employers.

“As of Jan 4, the Ministry of Human Resources informed that a total of 99,163 foreign workers have been screened which involved 3,536 employers.

"Of the total, 2,079 were confirmed positive for COVID-19 while 97,084 were negative," he said, adding that 758 clinics were involved in the screening programme.

Ismail Sabri said the compliance operation task force detained 152 individuals for breaching the standard operating procedures (SOP) yesterday including not wearing face masks and failure to provide necessary materials to record visitors registration.

He said the number of arrests involving pubs and nightclubs on Jan 1 was 623.

“I have been informed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) that they have written a letter to the state governments instructing the local authorities to take stern action against the owners of pubs and nightclubs including revoking the operating licences and blacklisting the premises involved,” he said.

-- BERNAMA