Coughing man triggers false alarm at police station

KUALA LUMPUR: The person who caused a scare that led to the partial closure of the Sentul police station was not infected with Covid-19, says Sentul OCPD Asst Comm S. Shanmugamoorthy.

“The 81-year-old man entered the station at about 10.20am and went to the information counter.

“Someone on duty at that time noticed the man had trouble breathing and was coughing.

“He is also believed to have been discharged from hospital recently,” he said.

ACP Shanmugamoorthy said Kuala Lumpur Hospital was informed immediately and the man was taken there at about 11am.

“Based on the advice of the health authorities, we decided to close the police station temporarily while awaiting the result.

Temporarily closed: The Sentul police station closed after a man exhibiting health issues entered the building.

“Sanitisation was carried out and all personnel were not allowed to leave the premises,” he said.

ACP Shanmugamoorthy said that at about 2.20pm, the hospital confirmed that the man was not a Covid-19 patient.

He said the station would operate as normal after a second round of sanitisation.

Earlier, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said based on an initial order by the Health Ministry, the station was temporarily off-limits to the public.

“I was told that the order came after a person wearing a pink wristband went into the station to report that he was harassed by members of the public.

“The personnel on duty noticed that the complainant was coughing and reported the matter to the nearest hospital,” he told reporters after attending the Ops Bersepadu Khazanah in Sepang yesterday.

Earlier, a photo showing the police station being ordered to be temporarily closed went viral on social media.