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KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob warned people not to leave their residential area after learning that they must be placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
Police, he said, would take action against those who tried to escape a lockdown.
At a press conference today, Ismail said the two-day grace period before the blockade was imposed was for the authorities to make the necessary preparations for the blockade.
He said this included the mobilization of the police to carry out controls in the area, placing barbed wire at the entry and exit points of the town and barricading the “illegal” lanes within the area.
He also said that the grace period was to allow enough time for people outside the area to return home, before entry was restricted.
However, Ismail noted that several people had tried to leave their localities to escape a lockdown, such as the foreign workers who lived in Selangor Mansion when it was under EMCO.
“If they decide to escape, we will ask the police to catch them,” he said. “We wish to report that the police will not bring these people back (to their homes) but to the police station where we will take serious action.”
He added that those who tried to escape could also be at risk of bringing the virus to the community when they return after 14 days.
“There is no need to run. When they are in the lockdown area, they will be screened for Covid-19. That’s better for them, rather than running away and not knowing their health. “
Meanwhile, Ismail said that students who wanted to continue their studies or return to their universities abroad could travel, as long as they could provide evidence of their student status at immigration points.
“For new students, they will need a letter of admission to the university and for those who wish to resume their studies, they must provide evidence of where their universities are located and a schedule for the semester.”
He added that students, especially freshmen, were allowed to bring a maximum of two people to accompany them abroad.
Ismail also announced that the National Security Council had created a committee, chaired by him, to draw up short, medium and long-term plans regarding the pandemic.
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