CORONAVIRUS | Two men opted to spend three months behind bars after being convicted for breaching the movement control order (MCO).
Chin Chee Wei, 45 and Chong Poh Wah, 56, are roof tilers from Kampung Baru Rimba Panjang in Sungai Siput, Perak.
Court documents said the pair was arrested yesterday while travelling on a motorcycle with fishing rods.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the men told the court that they used to earn a daily wage of RM100 but that has been cut off due to the control order.
The men said they were planning on catching fish for their own consumption.
The report added that Chin and Chong chose jail because they had no money to pay an undisclosed fine.
Eventually, they were sentenced to three months imprisonment.
Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020 all non-essential travel within Malaysia is not permitted until the MCO is lifted.
Anyone violating this law can be fined up to RM1,000, jailed up to six months or both.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 4,000 people have been detained for breaching the MCO and 1,000 have been charged in court.
The MCO was implemented on March 18 to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which has claimed 50 lives in Malaysia as of yesterday.
The control order was scheduled to end on March 31 but was extended until April 14.
Ismail said the Health Ministry would decide on whether there is a need for another extension.
The MCO has dealt a devastating blow to the nation's economy, prompting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to roll out a RM250 billion stimulus package.
On Wednesday, Malaysiakini reported that a hotel in Ipoh, Perak, had closed down, leaving 140 without employment. - Mkini
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