EMCO in five localities; four in Sabah, one in S'wak, says Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: Five more localities, four of which are in Sabah, will be placed under the enhanced movement control order, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Defence Minister said two localities in Tawau - PPR Batu 2 Lorong Habib Abdul Rahman and PPR Batu 8 Jalan Apas - were placed under an EMCO along with Kompleks Abedon in Kinabatangan and Felda Emas in Kalabakan.

The other locality placed under an EMCO is SMK Ulu Balingian in Sibu, Sarawak.

In his daily briefing on Tuesday (April 27), Ismail Sabri said that all the EMCO will begin on April 28 and last until May 11.

He also said the enhanced MCO in Kampung Baru Pasir Putih in Tawau will be extended until May 12. It was originally scheduled to end on April 28.

Three housing areas and villages in Tawau - Kampung Ranggu Batu 10, Fasa Dua Taman Semarak and Kampung Tanjung Batu Keramat - will see their EMCO end on schedule Wednesday (April 28).

On enforcement statistics, Ismail Sabri said 277 people were issued compounds on Monday (April 26), with five remanded.

Nineteen illegal immigrants were also arrested.

On the supposed Hari Raya SOPs that had been shared on social media, the minister confirmed that the list is false.

"That is fake. I have not yet announced it. The SOPs for Hari Raya prayers, visiting graves and visiting friends and relatives will be announced soon.

"And claims that interdistrict travel will be prohibited, that is also not true," he said.

When asked to comment on the recent issue of a burger seller being issued a RM50,000 compound for operating beyond allowable business hours, he said that on a personal level, he felt that the punishment was too high.

"As we know, the punishment is under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry. After all, according to the ordinance, the RM50,000 is applicable only to companies.

"To me, and even though this is out of my jurisdiction, I feel that this shouldn't have happened because the punishment is too high," he said.

He added that people can still appeal to the Health Ministry to reduce their fines.