Kuala Lumpur: Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob
(pic) has reminded the public not to take the standard operating procedures (SOPs) lightly, especially the use of face masks, because the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) is still being enforced throughout the country.
Even though only a few localities are being placed under the enhanced and conditional MCO, but this does not mean that other areas are free from the law, he said.
He said the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) was still in force as long as the RMCO is being implemented nationwide and action could be taken if there was a breach of order.
“Although we declare EMCO and CMCO in some locations or localities, but the whole of Malaysia is still in MCO, but with slightly loosen restrictions when we introduce RMCO. As long as there is MCO, whether conditional, enhanced or recovery, it is still subject to Act 342.
“The offences listed under the act can be enforced and legal action can be taken,” he told a virtual press conference via the Ministry of Defence’s Facebook page Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said police arrested 661 individuals for violating the RMCO Saturday, 632 of whom were compounded, 21 were remanded and two others were released on bail.
Of the total, he said, 223 were detained for not wearing face masks, which was the main offence, 191 for not keeping physical distance, 112 failed to provide the tools or record personal details while breach of conditions or orders in CMCO areas (75), activities in entertainment centres (45) and others (15).
On Ops Benteng, he said 72 illegal immigrants were arrested Saturday and 35 land vehicles were seized.
Ismail Sabri said since the implementation of Ops Benteng last May, a total of 497 illegal immigrants and 28 skippers have been arrested in Sarawak.
He added that 50,254 individuals returned home from July 24 until Saturday and of that number, 8,151 people were undergoing compulsory quarantine and another 381 were taken to hospital for treatment, while 41,722 individuals were discharged and allowed to return home.
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