Army could be called in if MCO compliance doesn’t improve
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says only some 60% of Malaysians complied with the movement control order yesterday.
PETALING JAYA: Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says only some 60% of Malaysians complied with the movement control order (MCO) which came into effect yesterday.
“If we have no choice, if compliance remains at 60% or 70%, then I believe that there’s a big possibility that the army will be used,” he said at a press conference today.
He said the army could also be deployed in rural areas as Rela members are presently the ones cooperating with the police in enforcing the MCO in those places.
He reiterated that Malaysians should remain at home at all times during the two-week period, saying, “Stay home and stay safe.”
He said 504 police roadblocks had been set up across the country to monitor the movements of people, with 6,135 vehicles checked as of yesterday.
He said the police had only issued warnings so far, but added that they would begin to enforce the directive more strictly if compliance does not improve.
Ismail also said the police would begin tracking down the attendees of the Sri Petaling mosque tabligh gathering who have yet to be screened for Covid-19.
“I understand there are worries over the members of the tabligh that can’t be traced, as many as 4,000.
“I also ask members of the tabligh who have not yet been traced to come forward to be screened.”
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He added that ministries had been instructed to set up hotline numbers to provide direct answers to queries from members of the public on matters relating to their ministries.