‘More stringent checks from today’

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will be stepping up checks and taking more stringent measures starting today to catch those trying to travel across state borders illegally.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador (pic) said all police personnel, especially those manning roadblocks, had been instructed to be on the lookout for motorists attempting interstate journeys without permits.

“I have given strict instructions to all personnel, especially those manning roadblocks, to be on alert for these offenders.

“Stringent checks will be carried out to ensure only those with permits are allowed to perform interstate journeys, ” he said.

He said police put up a total of 260 roadblocks along state borders to prevent unauthorised travel.

“These roadblocks are sufficient to control the movements of people throughout the country, ” he said.

Currently, some 36,000 police personnel have been deployed to man roadblocks and conduct various other Covid-19 SOP compliance checks, including Ops Benteng duties, nationwide.

They are placed in teams and deployed with Malaysian Armed Forces and Rela members to conduct joint duties.

Starting yesterday, those caught breaking Covid-19 SOP can be fined up to RM10,000 under the Emergency Ordinance; previously, the maximum fine was RM1,000.

Abdul Hamid said fine amounts will be determined by the Health Ministry’s district health officer and not the police.

“The decision to increase the fine is not meant to severely punish the people or enable the government to collect funds from these offenders.

“Instead, it is to reprimand and remind people that the fight against Covid-19 is far from over, ” he said.

He said the maximum fine of RM10,000 was for repeat and hardcore offenders.

He said police will use the ministry’s system to identify habitual offenders who refuse to comply with Covid-19 SOP such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing and refraining from activities at entertainment outlets.

Abdul Hamid said people should not be afraid of the law.

“The most important thing is adhering to the SOP and preventing the spread of the virus.

“The law is to ensure public safety, ” he said.

He said the challenge for the police now was to ensure continuous public safety and a steady drop in the number of Covid-19 cases with the public complying with the SOP.

He said while in general most people abide by the SOP, there was a fraction of people who were simply ignorant and continued to disobey the rules.

“These are the people that we are after, ” he said.