With that, the minister says movement in and out of the areas is strictly prohibited and only essential services are allowed

by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by BERNAMA

A CONDITIONAL Movement Control Order (CMCO) will be enforced on Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan in Sabah beginning 12.01am on Oct 7 (tomorrow).

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was decided in a special Cabinet meeting among ministers yesterday, following the current situation of Covid-19 in the area.

With that, the minister said movement in and out of the areas under CMCO is strictly prohibited.

“Only essential services, including factories and chains related to necessary services, are allowed.

“The Ministry of International Trade and Industry will list the types of necessary services that will be needed in the affected areas,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He added that the implementation of the CMCO aims to prevent more infections and transmissions of Covid-19 in the areas, as well as to help targeted case-tracking activities to be carried out.

The government, he said, will continue to discuss with the Sabah state government to monitor the situation throughout the district and will seek the advice of the Ministry of Health from time to time before taking any action.

In addition, the ministry said the police arrested a total of 979 individuals for violating the Recovery MCO (RMCO) regulations on Oct 4.

516 individuals were arrested for failing to maintain physical distancing.

“Other offences include failing to provide necessary equipment for registrations, not wearing face masks, premises operating over stipulated hours, taking part in pub and nightclub activities, breaking quarantine order, refusal to take a Covid-19 test and leaving a Targeted Enhanced MCO area without permission.

He also added that the operation task force led by the police carried out 53,266 inspections on Oct 4 to monitor the standard operating procedures (SOPs) compliance during the RMCO.

Under Ops Benteng, Ismail Sabri said the authorities detained a total of 48 undocumented immigrants, two boat skippers and four smugglers, while seizing seven land vehicles.

He noted that a total of 101 roadblocks were also conducted by the police, together with the authorities from the Malaysian Border Control Agency and Malaysian Armed Forces.

On mandatory quarantine, Ismail Sabri said 38,321 individuals returned to the country from abroad through the international check points from July 24 until Oct 4.

He said all of them were placed at 66 hotels and 11 public training institutes nationwide.

“Of that number, 8,698 individuals were undergoing mandatory quarantine and 106 individuals were sent to the hospital for treatment.

“While, 29,517 individuals were discharged and allowed to return home,” he added.

Additionally, he noted that the team also performed 1,052 special inspections on the SOPs compliance of business premises.

“Of that number, 1,045 premises complied with the prescribed SOPs, while seven premises were given advice for not complying with SOPs,” he added.