Do your part towards safety, rakyat urged

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Feb -- Kelihatan beberapa anggota polis membuat rondaan bagi memastikan orang ramai mematuhi Prosedur Operasi Standard (SOP) ketika berada di tempat awam pada Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) di sekitar Masjid India hari ini. Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) 2.0 yang sedang dilaksanakan di seluruh negara kecuali Sarawak, yang dijadualkan berakhir pada 4 Feb ini, dilanjutkan dua minggu lagi sehingga 18 Februari depan. Menteri Kanan (Kluster Keselamatan) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob berkata keputusan itu diambil atas penilaian risiko dan nasihat daripada Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) yang menyaksikan trend peningkatan kes COVID-19 di semua negeri. -- fotoBERNAMA (2021) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

PUTRAJAYA: The government is pleading with the people to follow the standard operating procedure as it relaxes restrictions to allow economic and business sectors to remain open during the movement control order.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said although the MCO has been extended until Feb 18, businesses, especially micro businesses, are allowed to operate so that livelihoods are not severely affected.

“We are aware that if we impose a total lockdown like we did last year, it will burden the people, especially those in the B40 group and those earning daily wages.

“That is why we decided to slightly relax the rules.

“However, we need the people to play their part to break the chain of infection. We need them to follow the SOP, ” he said in his media briefing yesterday.

Ismail Sabri said the number of cases is still high, including within the community, which is why it is important that action is taken.

“Please do your part by following the SOP and ensuring that everyone around you follows it, ” he said.

Ismail Sabri said the Attorney General’s Chambers is preparing a draft proposal to increase the compounds and fines issued by courts against MCO violators.

“This is still being looked into and once it has been approved, we will make the necessary announcements, ” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador had earlier said it was time to raise the RM1,000 compound imposed on those who flouted the SOP.

Hamid said the police issue thousands of summonses each week against individuals for violating the SOP, with the majority for non-adherence to physical distancing rules and for interstate and inter-district travel without valid reasons.Ismail Sabri also said the public can help authorities nab SOP violators by reporting these transgressions, adding that video recordings of such activities can also help police initiate investigations.

“I have received such video recordings myself and have passed them to the police for further action. I hope the public can help report these incidents so that those who do not follow the law will be dealt with, ” he said.