What ban? Army may be deployed to ensure people obey MCO, says Ismail Sabri

PUTRAJAYA: The government is not ruling out using the armed forces should the movement control order (MCO) compliance remain low, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Defence Minister said this was among the suggestions raised at the special meeting on Covid-19 on non-health related matters.

He said the meeting was informed by police that compliance on the order was around 60% on the first day it was enforced.

“I hope that this will not be necessary but if the compliance rate remains low, there is a big possibility that the military will be used (to get people to stay at home), ” he said in a televised briefing on Thursday (March 19).

The MCO runs from March 18-31.

During this period, only those who are employed in essential services will be allowed to go to work.

Business premises selling essential items such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores are allowed to open.

Ismail said police had conducted 504 roadblocks and checked 6,135 vehicles on the first day of the MCO yesterday (March 18).

“For the first two or three days, police will advise those stopped at roadblocks to stay at home.

“After that, they will change from advice to action if the public does not comply to the order, ” he said.