Home Minister: Traffic on major highways down by more than 60% since June 1

PETALING JAYA: Traffic on major highways in the country has decreased by more than 60% since the current lockdown came into force on June 1, said Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

The Home Minister said that the number of vehicles on these highways has decreased to about 500,000 vehicles a day, compared to 1.3 million vehicles before the movement control order 3.0.

Hamzah said that the police had also closed off 118 smaller roads that served as alternatives for the public to cross district and state boundaries.

“Through the records of the police, about 12,000 applications daily have been approved for interdistrict and interstate travel for deaths, emergencies, and work,” he said at an online press conference on Saturday (June 5).

Hamzah also said that from June 1-4, the police issued a total of 3,514 compounds and arrested 163 individuals for violating the standard operating procedure (SOP).

He added that the police and other authorities conducted about 85,000 daily checks, with 35,000 checks on premises such as restaurants, supermarkets, and factories around the country.