2,539 VEHICLES ORDERED TO TURN BACK
Police checked 264,280 vehicles at 154 interstate roadblocks, says minister
THE number of people attempting to travel interstate to balik kampung continues in the thousands, with the police yesterday directing more than 2,500 motorists to turn back at 154 interstate roadblocks.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the police checked 264,280 vehicles on Thursday, of which 2,539 were told to turn back.
“Among the states that registered the highest number of motorists trying to balik kampung were Melaka, Perak and Penang,” he said at his daily press conference yesterday.
He said Melaka saw 886 motorists attempting to cross state borders, while Perak recorded 362 and Penang 284.
On Thursday, Ismail Sabri announced a total ban on interstate travel, following reports that thousands were caught trying to sneak across borders to balik kampung for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The police have also started compounding offenders, apart from forcing them to turn back.
Ismail Sabri warned that those who managed to “escape” to their hometowns might not be able to escape the law when they travel back to the city.
“I will leave it to the police to decide if they want to impose heavier penalties against those who flout the law, or if they want to conduct more roadblocks.”
He said the ban on interstate travel also applied to married couples living apart in different states, a flexibility granted earlier this month under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
This movement flexibility was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on May 10, allowing spouses living apart in different states to travel interstate to meet their families with police permission.
Ismail Sabri said the interstate travel ban applied to everyone, including married couples.
“When I announced the travel ban yesterday (Thursday), it applies to everyone. No more.”
He also said those planning to celebrate Hari Raya in the same state were not allowed to sleep over at the homes of their hosts.
This, he added, was against the rules and standard operating procedure of the CMCO as festive visits were allowed only on the first day of the celebration.
“If Hari Raya falls on May 24, a person is not allowed to be at the house they visited after 12.01am because that is (technically) May 25.
“We were very clear that people could celebrate with their family members only on the first day of Hari Raya. Since May 25 will be the second day of Hari Raya, being in the (host’s) house on the following day is against the rules and SOP issued by the government.”
Ismail Sabri had announced that visits during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Pesta Kaamatan and Hari Gawai would be allowed only on the first day of the celebration and limited to households with immediate family members.
On the Johor government’s statement discouraging interdistrict travels, Ismail Sabri said this was in line with the federal government’s and Health director-general’s directives.
“I have mentioned that even though there is flexibility (for interdistrict travels), we need to be safe. If we can celebrate Hari Raya at home, then just celebrate at home.”
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the process of sending home university students to their hometowns in East Malaysia would continue only on May 28.
He said 1,722 students were scheduled to fly home, involving three return flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
“Since April 27, the Higher Education Ministry had sent home a total of 51,352 university students to their families.
“On May 21, the ministry had sent home 894 students via two flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, Sarawak, and two flights from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu.” On a separate matter, Ismail Sabri said the public could help the authorities combat the spread of fake news on Covid-19 by sharing information with the Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s Quick Response Team (PRP).
He said PRP had debunked and clarified 293 fake news.
“The public can help the authorities to stop the spread of fake news by reporting it to PRP’s hotline at 03-89115103 and verifying it on www.sebenarnya.my.
“The police will take strict action against people who create and spread fake news.”
He added that the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission had opened 265 investigation papers on Covid-19-related fake news.
Of these, he said 178 cases were being investigated, while 30 had been charged in court.
“Eleven offenders were given warning notices, while 18 (offenders) pleaded guilty.”