‘A third of roadblocks will be mobile’

Spot check: A police officer checking that a motorist’s paperwork is in order. Acryl Sani advices all those travelling to have their utility bills at hand to show proof of their place of residence. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: A third of the roadblocks deployed during the lockdown will be mobile, says Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

He said there would be roughly 800 roadblocks enforced nation-wide.

“Around two-thirds will be permanent roadblocks while the rest will be mobile. The district police will also identify areas and lanes used for travelling and close them if needed.

“We will also increase spot checks outside the city due to the rate of compliance there being lower, ” he said.

He also said no curfew would be enforced.

“However, since all businesses must close by 8pm, people shouldn’t have a reason to be out.

“Our objective is to discourage unimportant movements, ” he told a press conference yesterday at Bukit Aman.

Acryl Sani said now that the country was in a state of MCO for over a year, the time to advice offenders was long gone and strict enforcement of the SOP would be enforced.

On traffic jams at roadblocks, he said it would be unavoidable.

“I advice the people to have their utility bills at hand to show proof of their place of residence to make things smoother.

“All travel permissions will also be scrutinised and we will do a more thorough check at the roadblocks, ” he said.

Acryl San added that more manpower would be on the ground, with around 70,000 in total deployed, including 15,000 more personnel from other agencies.

“This virus knows no tiredness and so do we. We have to help our medical system, and ensure that they can continue to operate.”

On the issue of police “cartels”, he said the police would take a hands-off approach and let the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) investigate the matter.

“This is an allegation towards the police force itself and as such we cannot investigate it ourselves.

“We have written a letter to the EAIC to investigate this matter and I am confident that an organisation such as theirs will do so fully.”

He added that the police force placed integrity in their duties above all else.

“We will enforce integrity with no compromise, ” he said.

Previously, the then IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said there were groups of young officers that were linked to the cartels and wished to dominate the police force.