LABUAN: 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 on Tuesday.
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.
Meanwhile, in many people, who still come up with various excuses, have been ordered to turn back at roadblocks set up at Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and Emco areas, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said that to prevent this from recurring, prior permission must be obtained from police stations should there be a necessity to move from one place to another, for crossing states placed under CMCO or to leave Emco localities and areas.
“For example, to cross from from Kuala Lumpur, which is under CMCO, to Pahang. If there is no letter of permission, surely it will not be allowed and will be ordered to turn back,” he said at a press conference on the latest development of the Recovery MCO at Wisma Pertahanan here.
Ismail Sabri said that as of Monday, a total of 297 roadblocks were set up nationwide, with 310 vehicles ordered to turn back. They involved 201 vehicles in Sabah, 64 in Johor and 45 in Kuala Lumpur.
He also said that 612 individuals were detained on Monday, a slight drop from the 688 arrested the day before, for breaching the Movement Control Order (MCO). Of the 612, a total of 604 individuals were compounded and eight remanded.
“Among the offences committed were for not observing physical distancing (145), not wearing face mask (156), not providing facilities for recording details of customers (134) and others (91),” he said.
Under Ops Benteng, he said 56 illegal immigrants were arrested and three land vehicles were seized Monday.
Ismail Sabri also said that 55,548 Malaysians returned to the country from abroad via international entry points since July 24 until Monday and placed in 66 hotels and 17 other premises, including public training institutes (ILA) and private educational institutions.
“Of the total, 9,122 are undergoing compulsory quarantine, 381 have been sent to hospital for treatment while 46,045 have been discharged and allowed to go home,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said a 14-day Emco would be enforced in Kampung Haji Baki, Kuching, Sarawak from Oct 28 to Nov 10 following a spike in Covid-19 cases.
Meanwhile, the Emco for the Penang Remand Prison and prison quarters, which was scheduled to end tomorrow, has been extended for another 14 days to Nov 11, he said.
Ismail added that the Emco implemented at Sungai Emas Flats, Jalan Emas 31 and 32, as well as Plaza Hentian Kajang, which was supposed to today (Wednesday), would be extended for another 14 days from Oct 28 to Nov 10.
This, he said, would affect about 1,300 flat residents and 7,500 residents of Plaza Hentian Kajang.
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