Armed Forces can detain, take action against MCO violators - Ismail Sabri
BERNAMA
14/1/21
KUALA LUMPUR: Officers and personnel of the Malaysian Armed Forces now have the power to detain and take action against those found violating the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said under the implementation of the Emergency Ordinance, the authority held by the police and army are the same and this will help efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation better.
“If previously the armed forces could only take action if there was border intrusion, now they can detain suspects for further action without the presence of police,” he said at the media conference about the development of the MCO today.
He said it will be in effect throughout the entire duration of the enforcement of the Emergency Ordinance until August.
On Tuesday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah proclaimed that an emergency that would be enforced up to Aug 1 as a proactive measure to contain the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
Ismail Sabri also said that the police will not compromise and will take stern action against those who intend to cross state lines especially in MCO areas beginning Saturday.
He said compounds will be issued on the field for violating the order.
“For the period of three days till tomorrow, we (the government) are still in the ‘mood’ of advising and no action will be taken. But after tomorrow, the police will no longer compromise,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said states under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the Recovery MCO (RMCO) can have the MCO enforced on them if the Health Ministry discovers a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases.
In other developments, he said the department heads of the civil service need to consider a rotation system and the option of working from home for parents who are working in essential services so that they can monitor their primary school children during their online learning sessions.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has not yet considered extending the operating hours of eateries from 8 pm to 10 pm in the states involved in the Movement Control Order (MCO).
This was confirmed by Senior Minister (Defence Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a press conference on Thursday, despite complaints about the matter.
"Not ready (to extend operating hours). This MCO will be two weeks, we used to be three months. So, for only two weeks, please comply with what the government suggests.
"Like I said earlier if the case decreases, we will change the status of MCO to Conditional MCO (CMCO), so there will be flexibility to be given.
"So, if we want our place to change to CMCO and there is flexibility, we can be the area to change the status from MCO to CMCO," he said.
Meanwhile, leisure activities in public parks in the states that are subject to the MCO are not allowed.
Ismail Sabri said the government only allowed leisure activities limited to two people from each house to be carried out in the neighborhood only.
"However, there are reports of congestion in public parks in the MCO area.
"I would like to emphasise that public parks are closed within the MCO area and no sports or leisure activities are allowed in public parks during the MCO period.
"So I hope no one does leisure and sports in public parks for fear of any action from the authorities," he said
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