Ismail Sabri: 472 detained for MCO violations on Friday (Jan 15)

PETALING JAYA: Police detained 472 people for defying MCO SOPs on Friday (Jan 15), says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (pic).

He said of the number, 15 were remanded and the other 457 were compounded.

Among the violations were not wearing masks (182 cases), failing to prepare tools to record customers entry to premises (85), premises opening after hours or without permits (66), not maintaining physical distancing (65) and inter-state or inter-district travel without permission (32).

Authorities also stopped 65 foreigners from encroaching into the country's under Ops Benteng as efforts to secure entry points under the movement control order.

He said authorities also seized four land vehicles at roadblocks set up under Op Benteng.

"Authorities set up 444 roadblocks on Friday (Jan 15) and will take stern action on anyone trying to enter the country illegally.

"Enforcement agencies will also continue to tighten security at the borders especially at channels known to be used as lorong tikus (secret pathways)," he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 16).

He said authorities also closed down a construction site after it was found to be breaking the standard operating procedure (SOP).

He said authorities conducted checks at 22 construction sites nationwide on Friday and found 17 complying with the SOP.

"Four others were not in compliance and one was ordered to close while another one was not in operation," he said.

He also said 8,588 people are currently undergoing quarantine at hotels and public training institutes after returning to Malaysia from abroad.

Between July 24 last year and Jan 15, 105,603 people have returned from 37 countries.