More cars and more arrests, rues minister

There were more cars on the roads and more arrests for movement control order (MCO) violations yesterday.

According to Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the police said there were more vehicles on the road yesterday because some businesses were back in operation illegally.

"There are companies who are not involved in essential services that have restarted operations.

"I want to reiterate that any businesses or factories can only start operations with International Trade and Industry Ministry’s (Miti) permission," said Ismail during his daily press briefing today.

The third phase of the MCO began yesterday which will eventually see some non-essential businesses receiving permission from Miti to begin operations, albeit subject to a reduced workforce of 70 percent.

He said the authorities arrested 1,315 individuals yesterday, bringing the cumulative total of 11,017 arrests for MCO-related offences.

Ismail said a total of 558,540 vehicles were inspected by the authorities yesterday.

He said this showed a lot of vehicles were on the road and that the authorities were very strict when checking each vehicle at the checkpoints.

He reiterated that the only businesses that were allowed to operate during the MCO without needing the necessary paperwork were those in the entire food supply chain.

Using fish as an example, he said those allowed to work during the MCO are fishermen, wholesalers, lorry drivers who transport fish and factory workers who process fish. - Mkini