293 held for violating RMCO

PETALING JAYA: The crackdown on those who continue to violate the restricted movement control order (RMCO) continued yesterday with 293 people arrested.

Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 269 were issued compounds while 24 were remanded.

He said the majority of the arrests were made at pubs and nightclubs.

He said that among those arrested, 124 were patrons of nightclubs and pubs, 85 failed to observe social distancing, 24 failed to wear face masks, two for ignoring the RMCO and two more for being out without a valid reason.

Also arrested were 31 business operators who failed to provide equipment for contact tracing registration, 10 for operating beyond the permitted business hours and six for operating without a licence. Nine illegal migrants were also nabbed.

Ismail Sabri said a total of 2,475 compliance task force teams involving 11,016 personnel conducted checks at 54,825 premises including supermarkets, restaurants, hawker stalls, factories, banking premises, government offices, as well as land, water and air transport terminals.

On the mandatory home quarantine, he said 31,830 people who arrived through KLIA were screened for Covid-19 from July 24 to Sept 20.

Ismail Sabri said 71 tested positive for Covid19 and were sent to the hospital, while 23,417 were allowed to return home.

He added that a total of 8,342 people have already been put under mandatory quarantine.

“The authorities also detained 75 illegal migrants, five suspected smugglers, and two boat skippers on Sunday under Op Benteng.

“The authorities also mounted 91 roadblocks nationwide, and four vehicles were seized in the operation,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said the government will continue to monitor the country’s borders, especially the rat lanes, and will take stern action against those who work with human traffickers to bring in illegal immigrants.