EMCO in 2 Sabah villages extended to Dec 13 over surge in cases
KUALA LUMPUR: The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) has been extended in Kampung Numbak and Telipok settlement in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for another two weeks following a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said active Covid-19 cases in both localities were high, hence the need to extend the EMCO to Dec 13.
The EMCO in Kampung Numbak and the Telipok settlement was initially scheduled to end yesterday.
He said up to Friday, the Health Ministry had confirmed 109 active cases in Kampung Numbak and 136 active cases in the Telipok settlement.
“Besides a high number of active cases, many residents in both locations need to undergo screening.
“Therefore, the EMCO will be extended starting tomorrow (today) to Dec 13.”
Meanwhile, he said police detained 648 people on Saturday, including 331 patrons at entertainment centres for flouting the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) standard operating procedures (SOP).
He said out of these, 594 were slapped with compounds, while 54 others were remanded.
Besides engaging in activities at entertainment centres, other offences were not following physical distancing rules (102), not wearing face masks (65), travelling inter-state or between districts without permission (64), failure to provide registration equipment on premises (60), and others (26).
“A total of 2,437 compliance teams comprising 11,746 personnel conducted inspections at 3,281 supermarkets; 4,316 restaurants; 1,302 hawker stalls; 1,097 factories; 3,047 banks, and 410 government offices nationwide.
“Also inspected were 878 land transport terminals, 228 water transport terminals, and 84 air transport terminals.”
On Op Benteng, Ismail Sabri said the authorities had detained 99 illegal immigrants and two people smugglers.
A total of 280 roadblocks were mounted nationwide.
He said during the operation, two land vehicles were seized.
Op Benteng is a joint effort between the police, armed forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and the Malaysian Border Security Agency to safeguard the country’s borders and eliminate cross-border crimes to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
On mandatory quarantine, Ismail Sabri said 77,211 people had returned to the country since July 24.
They were quarantined at 79 hotels and 18 public training institutes, and private learning institutions.
“A total of 10,611 people are undergoing mandatory quarantine, while 405 others were sent to hospital for treatment.” He said 66,195 people had been discharged and allowed to go home.
The returnees had flown in from 36 countries.
On sanitisation operations, Ismail Sabri said 25 operations were conducted yesterday in four red zones, four yellow zones and two green zones, involving five states and two federal territories.
The operations were conducted in Melaka (10), Selangor (four), Kuala Lumpur (four), Johor (three), Pahang (two), Negri Sembilan (one), and Labuan (one).
He added that the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry also carried out inspections on Saturday on 12 daily essential items, including at 457 retailers, 164 wholesalers and 33 manufacturers.
“Ministry enforcement staff also conducted 518 operations on SOP compliance checks, with all premises complying with the SOP.
“The government urges operators and the public to always practise physical distancing and good hygiene, especially during retail activities.”