Those trying to flee a lockdown will face police action, warns Ismail Sabri

 

In preparing for an EMCO, police are mobilised to place barbed wires at the entry and exit points of the locality, and to set up roadblocks.

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob has warned people against leaving their residential area after learning that they are to be placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

Police, he said, would take action against those who tried to escape a lockdown.

Speaking at a press conference today, Ismail said the two-day grace period before a lockdown was imposed was for the authorities to make necessary preparations for the lockdown.

He said this included mobilising police to conduct checks in the area, putting up barbed wires at the entry and exit points of the locality and setting up roadblocks at “illegal” lanes within the area.

He also said the grace period was to give enough time for people outside the area to return home, before entry was restricted.

However, Ismail noted that several people had attempted to leave their localities to escape a lockdown, such as the foreign workers living at Selangor Mansion when it was under EMCO.

“If they decide to escape, we will request for the police to catch them,” he said. “We wish to inform that the police will not bring these people back (to their homes) but to the police station where we will take serious action.”

He added that those who attempted to escape could also risk bringing the virus into the community when they returned after 14 days.

“There is no need to run. When they are in the lockdown area, they will be screened for Covid-19. That is better for them, rather than running away and not knowing their health status.”

Meanwhile, Ismail said students who wished to further their studies or return to their universities overseas were allowed to travel, as long as they were able to provide evidence of their student status at immigration points.

“For new students, they will need a university admittance letter and for those who wish to resume their studies, they must provide evidence of where their universities are located and a schedule for the semester.”

He added that students, especially freshmen, were allowed to bring a maximum of two people along to accompany them overseas.

Ismail also announced that the National Security Council had set up a committee, chaired by him, to come up with short, medium and long-term plans with regard to the pandemic. - FMT