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KUALA LUMPUR: Ops Benteng helped prevent a larger Covid-19 outbreak from occurring within the community in Lahad Datu, says Armed Forces Chief Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
The Benteng LD (Lahad Datu) cluster was detected for the first time on September 1 after the authorities captured two undocumented immigrants from the Philippines in the framework of the mission “Ops Benteng”, a joint operation of the police, the Armed Forces and other agencies to catch undocumented aliens. .
The first cases were found after a Covid-19 review conducted on detainees at the Lahad Datu police headquarters.
“Imagine if we didn’t have Ops Benteng. They would have been in and out as they wanted.
“We could have had to go back to the motion control (MCO) order,” he said.
Affendi added that many undocumented immigrants continued to be arrested despite the improved enforcement.
“We have released the number of illegal immigrants arrested online and they are still trying their luck to enter the country.
“Those who enter, we do not know if they are positive for Covid-19 or not. And we know that the surrounding areas outside of Malaysia still have many cases,” he told a news conference in Wisma Pertahanan here on Thursday (September 10).
The head of the Armed Forces also noted that Ops Benteng has also helped prevent smuggling cases.
“Mainly around the borders. Smuggling is difficult to detect with equipment. We need men on the ground,” he said.
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