INTERSTATE CRACKDOWN
POLICE will increase roadblocks to prevent people from travelling across state borders during the upcoming Ramadan, with those caught doing so to face the full force of the law.
POLICE will mount more roadblocks, especially at rat lanes near state borders to deter people from returning to their hometowns for Ramadan.
Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim said police would take stern action in accordance with the provisions of the law against those who attempted to make interstate travel without permission.
“There will be no more advice or warnings.
“Instead, they will face the full force of the law.
“This is to ensure that people will not take advantage of trying to return to their hometowns so that they can usher in the first day of Ramadan (tentatively) on April 13 (this year) with their families in the kampung, which is commonly practised by many.
“To avoid such things, we will mount more police roadblocks and tighten checks there and at rat lanes.
“I have told my officers, enough of giving advice. It is time to take action instead.
“By right, Covid-19 cases are supposed to be lower, but new clusters are emerging of late following interstate travels,” he said at a ceremony promoting two police corporals to sergeants.
On directives given to those who wanted to travel between states to provide police with their travel arrangement and itinerary, Zainal said the order did not come from the top management of the police.
“The police will not ask (for travel arrangements and activities). But if it is for a week, we want to know the reasons.”
He also said the police were waiting for the remaining 175 units of Honda Civiv 1.8 S to serve as new patrol vehicles, which were supposed to arrive last year.
He said he hoped that the delivery of the vehicles would be expedited as the older patrol vehicles had to be replaced.
“By right, the remaining 175 patrol vehicles from a total of 425 should have arrived last year.
“We hope the government will expedite the replacement of more than 800 old patrol vehicles of more than five years with the Honda Civics,” he added.
On the use of Proton X70, Zainal said they had tested and driven the vehicle in Muar, but found that it was unsuitable for patrolling.
It was reported in August last year that police were in the proofof-concept stage to ensure that the Proton X70 was suitable for deployments involving various aspects, including defensive driving.
The Proton X70 vehicles were slated to replace the old fleet of Proton Waja.