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LAHAD DATU: Armed Forces personnel are reminded to always prioritise safety and personal health while performing their duties under the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Fifth Infantry Division Commander Maj Gen Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan said the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) such as such as wearing face masks, gloves and Personal Protective Equipment and perform disinfection procedure should be fully complied.

“We do not want our members who are also frontliners to be exposed to the infection as we might face challenges in carrying out enforcement task in the future and the sustainability will be affected.

“So far, in Sabah, no member was tested positive for Covid-19. However, we have 22 members and their families who were exposed to the pandemic.

“Six of them are currently under Patient Under Investigation (PUI) while 16 others are under Patient Under Surveillance (PUS),” he said.

According to Hafizuddeain, members and their families who were exposed to the infection are currently under quarantine.

They underwent the first swab screening test and the result came out negative. However, for security reasons a second swab screening test was carried out and they are waiting for the result.

A sizeable member of police personnel have either contracted the virus while on duty or are in quarantine.

In the meantime, Hafizuddeain who was on a working visit here after Tawau and Kunak found the level of compliance to the MCO in the three districts to be at  97 per cent.

He the public should understand that MCO not only involved the road but also other areas such as villages, residency areas, supermarkets, Pasar rakyat, etc.

He reminded them to avoid gathering to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as well as breaking the chain.

During his visit, Hafizuddeain who was accompanied by District Police Chief, ACP Nasri Mansor and 13th Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Abdul Razak Hussain also reviewed the level of preparedness and the morale level of his members.

He said it was necessary so that he could plan for the third phase of MCO from April 15 to April 28.

“So far, the cooperation between ATM and police as well as other agencies are at a good level and we did not face any problem such as manpower or logistics.

In TAWAU, district deputy police chief Supt Nor Azizulkifli Mansor said the police and army would continue to play their respective roles and strengthen cooperation during the third phase of MCO.

Nor Azizulkifli said Hafizuddeain’s official visit to the Tawau police headquarters strengthened cooperation between both enforcement units.

“We will work together with the army in monitoring, patrolling and ensuring the people comply with the restrictions under MCO. “We are confident with the help and preparedness of the army, the people’s compliance level under MCO will be higher,” he said.

Also present were the commander of the 13th Brigade, Brigadier General Abdul Razak Bin Hussain, deputy commander of 516 Regiment Territory Army Lieutenant Colonel Zakhir Asni Bin Zabidi, the head of crime prevention and community safety, DSP Nasir Bin Muslen and senior army officers.