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KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says Putrajaya is considering stricter standard operating procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19. This comes after much speculation about the reimposition of a total motion control (MCO) order.
At a press conference today, he told Malaysians to wait for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to announce the next course of action on Monday.
Rumors of an MCO with a total lockdown, similar to the one imposed between March and May last year, have been circulating on social media, with Malaysia recording daily four-digit infections since November last year.
“The government is studying and evaluating the actions that must be taken immediately to control the spread of Covid-19. This includes stricter standard operating procedures, involving social sectors, to reduce movement and the risk of spreading the virus, ”Ismail said.
He said that due to the increase in the number of illegal immigrants entering the country from Pulau Ketam, Selangor, the government had decided to build a floating barge for closer monitoring.
As of 2019, it said that 328 illegal immigrants had been arrested there and that the number had risen to 2,000 by 2020.
On the issue of mandatory screening for foreign workers in six states and federal territories, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sabah and Labuan, he said that 119,940 foreign workers had been examined.
Of that number, 2,574 had tested positive.
On the subject of teachers and lecturers returning to Sabah and Sarawak, as schools and universities will reopen soon, he said the Health Ministry will bear the cost of the swab tests.
He added that Sarawak will also bear the cost of quarantine for returning teachers and professors.
On daily crimes, he said that the police yesterday arrested 277 people for crimes related to movement control.
Ismail said 276 were imposed compound fines while one person was on remand.
The offenses include participating in activities at entertainment centers, not wearing face masks, and failing to provide contact tracing or recording materials.
A total of 2,783 compliance work teams were deployed to carry out controls in supermarkets, restaurants, street vendors, factories, banks, among others.
Ismail also said that police arrested 26 illegal immigrants and seized nine vehicles under Op Benteng.
He added that 839 people had arrived yesterday through the KLIA and all are currently in mandatory quarantine.
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