First stop at police station

PETALING JAYA: Long lines were seen at several police stations in the Klang Valley following Bukit Aman’s initial order that all interstate travel will require permission from police during the movement control order (MCO).

About 100 people were seen outside the Cheras police station last night queuing to fill up interstate travel approval forms.

At 11.30pm last night, with complaints growing louder, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador issued a press statement saying the interstate travel order had been deferred until today.

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin said there were long lines at a number of police stations in the state.

“We will entertain members of the public who wish to cross state lines with valid reasons.

“Many of them are students who want to go home during the two weeks to be with their families and we will not stop them, ” he said.

In Melaka, businessman Jeremy Peter, 38, who was at the Malim police station to get a form for his trip to Muar, said he travelled to Muar to work every day.

“It’s a little cumbersome but I think it is the right thing to do.”

There was also an increase in the number of Malaysians to Singapore before the MCO took effect at midnight, with long queues at the Woodlands checkpoint.

More wheels on the road: Traffic building up at the Duta toll plaza before the movement control order takes effect today.

Businessman Chong Ming Huei, who travelled to Singapore last night, said the clearance time at the Woodlands immigration checkpoint came to over an hour when he arrived at about 8.45pm.

“I need to go down for several important business meetings in the next few days.

“There were many people and long queues at the section for those holding work visas, while the line for travellers was manageable, ” said Chong, 40, who took a bus from Melaka.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd community and public engagement head Syed Mohammed Idid said traffic was building up on some sections along the North-South Expressway heading towards Skudai and Sedenak last night.

During his announcement, Abdul Hamid said Bukit Aman was going to use the coming days during the MCO as a litmus test before deciding on further action.

“All interstate travel will require permission from the respective police station chiefs.

“People will be required to bring documents to verify their travel purpose, ” he said at Bukit Aman.

He added that police would issue exemption letters to those who were travelling for an emergency or important matters.

“If we find that people are still flouting the order, we will decide on taking stricter action, ” he said, adding that the public had a responsibility of adhering to the order.

Abdul Hamid said essential service staff or providers could travel within the Klang Valley for work.

“Movement between Kuala Lumpur and Selangor is reasonable and there is no need to go to a police station to get travel exemptions.”

He said anyone with queries on the movement control order could contact the nearest police station.