Senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 715 were issued compound fines while another 44 were remanded.

The offences included interstate crossing without approval (203), failing to observe physical distancing (167), not wearing face masks (117), leaving home without valid reasons (84) and not recording one’s data before entering business premises (57).

Ismail said 57 were also found to be driving with more than two people in their vehicles.

A total of 36 undocumented migrants were arrested for attempting to enter the country illegally under the ongoing Op Benteng.

Ismail said 120,500 people had entered the country since July 24 from various countries. A total of 623 people had entered the country yesterday alone. They had been placed in 73 hotels and 12 government institutions to undergo quarantine.

He said 5,690 individuals are still under quarantine, 551 were taken to hospital while 114,259 have been allowed to go home.

Ismail said the human resources ministry had carried out Covid-19 tests on 368,185 foreign workers.

Out of that, 7,198 tested positive. To date, 1,370 clinics are involved in this programme to test foreign workers, he added.

The government had announced on Feb 1 that all foreign workers need to undergo Covid-19 tests.