Selamat Hari Raya – are you following SOPs?

 

A police team going house to house in a residential area in Kampung Baru to check on SOP violations. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The men in blue made house calls today, but not to celebrate Hari Raya with residents.

Instead, it was to ensure that those celebrating were adhering to SOPs under the latest round of the movement control order (MCO).

Police teams were seen patrolling housing areas in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Shah Alam, among other places, to ensure residents did not violate SOPs during MCO.

In some places, residents of flats took to the corridors of their units to celebrate Hari Raya, so they could both be at home and still share the joy with neighbours.

On Wednesday, the nation was placed under a three-week nationwide MCO following a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Residents at the Seri Pulau Pinang flats in Cheras wishing each other Selamat Hari Raya from outside their units. (Bernama pic)

All social activities including “open houses”, Hari Raya visits and visits to cemeteries were banned.

Only Sabah has allowed house visits, although they are limited to 20 relatives at any one time from 9am to 9pm only.

The host must also prepare the MySejahtera QR code for guests to register themselves.

Earlier today, it was reported that the Terengganu police recorded a statement from a state exco member for flouting SOPs by having guests over at his house for Hari Raya.

The Star reported recently that eight police teams from the Petaling Jaya district headquarters would make surprise visits to homes during the first day of Raya.

Petaling Jaya police chief Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said those found to have organised “open houses” that did not follow SOPs would be fined RM25,000.

Bukit Aman internal security and public order department director Abd Rahim Jaafar said public compliance with SOPs related to the ban on Hari Raya visits or gatherings, was at a satisfactory level. He said no compounds were issued in relation to offences related to Hari Raya.

Until now, he said, there were only compounds imposed for not wearing face masks apart from not practising social distancing.

“From observations in residential areas, it was also found that there were not many vehicles (around), indicating that there were no significant gathering activities by the public.

“However, monitoring and patrols will continue to be done from time to time to ensure that this situation remains for a long time,” he said. - FMT