800 roadblocks to be set up
Increased police presence to ensure SOP compliance
PUTRAJAYA: Some 800 roadblocks will be mounted when the full lockdown kicks in on Tuesday with spot checks also increased to ensure strict compliance of the standard operating procedure (SOP), the Home Minister announced.
Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said 70,000 members from the police force and agencies under the Home Ministry will be on duty throughout the national lockdown.
Of the figure, he said 55,000 would comprise police personnel, up from the 37,000 involved now. The number of roadblocks at present is 600.
“We will also rope in 15,000 personnel from other enforcement agencies such as the Immigration Department, Rela, Escomm,
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Malaysian Border Security Agency to be on duty.
“We will work with local authorities, and the International Trade and Industry, Works and Human Resources ministries to ensure full compliance of the SOP by the social and economic sectors during the full lockdown,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting with heads of agencies under his ministry ahead of the two-week full lockdown to be enforced until June 14.
Under the national lockdown, only essential economic and service sectors will be allowed to operate.
Hamzah said the Immigration Department had been directed to step up operations against illegal immigrants, targeting specific areas.
He said the authorities were prepared to accept more detainees with the opening of satellite prisons and satellite detention centres.
Hamzah said the ministry would also be operating a 24-hour operations room from Tuesday for the public to seek information on the implementation of the full lockdown.
The police, Immigration, Prisons, National Registration Department as well as the MMEA will also open their respective centres, he added.