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PUTRAJAYA: The government has warned that stricter rules will be re-applied if the current conditional movement control order (MCO) is not followed.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that although the rules were relaxed to allow the national economy to restart, people must continue to comply with the established standard operating procedure (SOP).
He said the conditional MCO, which replaced the MCO introduced on March 18, “does not mean complete freedom to move and that people do what they want.”
“The conditional MCO is still an MCO. We’ve relaxed the rules a bit so people can go back to work.
“It is not impossible for us to reverse if the authorities report a large number of non-conforming cases.
“So let’s follow all the rules and enjoy a slightly relaxed environment, rather than restricting our movement again,” he said yesterday at his daily news conference.
The minister was responding to a viral video of a large number of people not practicing social distancing while shopping for food in Desa Pandan.
“I checked with the Police Inspector General because I thought the video was fake. But he told me it was true.
“This is the situation we want to avoid … if we want to continue enjoying a little freedom,” he said.
The MCO, which is now in its fifth phase, was originally slated to expire yesterday.
Ismail Sabri also said that the Special Cabinet Committee on Non-Health Issues for the MCO had decided it was time for the authorities to act and no longer issue advice or warnings.
“The police and other agencies have been given the authority to take action against those who do not comply with the SOP.
“My advice to all of you is, please comply. Ensure social distancing and prevent places from getting crowded, “he said.
On Monday, the multi-agency task force to verify noncompliance with the SOP under the conditional MCO examined 53,250 locations, including 4,229 supermarkets, 3,795 restaurants, and 924 land, water, and air transportation terminals.
The task force also verified 22,829 private vehicles, 1,969 public transportation vehicles, 3,321 places of worship, 1,258 recreational facilities, and 259 construction sites across the country.
On another matter, Ismail Sabri said that to date, 353 Malaysians who returned from abroad had tested positive for Covid-19.
A total of 32,263 Malaysians have been quarantined upon returning from abroad since April 3, and 24,413 may return home from April 17 onwards.
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