Penang island police to cordon off two housing areas

 

Penang island police have announced that roadblocks and checkpoints will be set up in Relau and Batu Uban. (Facebook pic)

GEORGE TOWN: The police will mount roadblocks at the flats in Persiaran Paya Terubong, Relau, and Desa Bistari flats, Blocks A and B, in Batu Uban from Dec 7 to 20.

The two localities have been declared as red zone areas and placed under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

District police chief Soffian Santong said 265 policemen, with assistance from the Armed Forces, Civil Defence and Rela, would be assigned to monitor the areas.

“Apart from roadblocks, we will also place checkpoints to monitor the movements of the residents so that they remain inside the EMCO areas,” he said.

The two localities are in Mukim 12 and Mukim 13, where a two-week extension of the conditional MCO has been put in place.

However, there would be no restrictions on inter-district travel, Soffian said. “The police have set up three special monitoring teams to monitor Mukim 13 with the cooperation of the Penang City Council.”

The two areas where a lockdown has been ordered for two weeks from Dec 7 to Dec 20. (Facebook pic)

Residents are under stay-at-home orders. Commercial and social activities are banned, with essential business services allowed to operate under restricted orders.

Soffian said the EMCO would affect as many as 10,000 residents living in the 2,730 flats in Persiaran Paya Terubong, and 2,000 residents from 520 flats at Desa Bistari, Batu Uban.

Commenting on a report of Desa Bistari residents, comprising foreigners, who were said to have fled the area after the announcement of the EMCO, Soffian said the police were ready to help the health ministry track down those involved. - FMT