04/04/2020 06:55 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 -- Members of the public who want to travel more than 10km away from their respective houses during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period have to have a very good reason to do so.
In fact, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said they need to produce solid evidence, such as their water or electricity bill, should they have an official or important matter to tend to.
However, this does not apply to those who have to make an emergency trip to seek medical treatment, he said.
“For example, if a person wants to seek medical treatment but the clinic or hospital is located about 15 km away from his house, he just needs to produce a valid document or doctor appointment letter which says that he needs to get medical treatment.
“InsyaAllah, the policemen (at roadblocks) will understand and tolerate this situation as I have given them the permission to use their discretion to allow such a person to make that over-10km trip to get the medical treatment he needs,” he told Bernama when met at Bukit Aman here today.
Abdul Hamid said a person sending a sick child or an elderly to seek medical treatment without having an appointment card would also be allowed to proceed to the hospital but they may need to explain their situations to the policemen on duty at the roadblocks.
He said he had always reminded the policemen involved in mounting the roadblocks to not arrest those who were in an emergency situation or in need of medical attention.
Earlier today, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said policemen can use their discretion to allow the public to travel more than 10km away to get food or medical supplies, if necessary.
He said it includes inter-state travel even though phase two of the Movement Control Order (MCO) had restricted travel to not more than 10 km.
-- BERNAMA
04/04/2020 12:00 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 -- Public compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) aimed at curbing the COVID-19 outbreak has now reached 99 per cent, says Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
He said people were now aware that the government's main objective of implementing the MCO was to break the COVID-19 chain of infection in the country.
“Alhamdulillah, I would like to thank the public...now the majority of them seem to understand the importance of taking the MCO seriously...and the dangers if they don’t,” he told Bernama when met at Bukit Aman today.
Abdul Hamid also chided the remaining one per cent for being stubborn, describing them as the cause of headache for the security forces.
He said police enforcement had changed into the harsh mode by arresting those who disobeyed the order, besides putting up more roadblocks.
“Previously, police implemented the MCO in a soft and advisory mode, but some were stubborn, who felt as if they would not be infected (with COVID-19).
“Now the police are becoming more strict with those who are irresponsible. Those who go out without a valid purpose will be arrested,” he said.
Abdul Hamid also revealed that many minors were being detained for flouting the MCO.
“There are (minors) found riding on motorcycles in pairs, clearly in violation of the MCO. This is saddening, and I hope parents can control them," he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid said the implementation of the MCO had also indirectly reduced the crime rate in the country.
“The rate of road accidents is also on the decline, and the police will continue to enforce the MCO to ensure that the COVID-19 chain of infection is broken,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
