Four people per vehicle limit to lift tomorrow - Ismail Sabri

The government has agreed to relax the four people per vehicle limit effective tomorrow, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced today.

Under the new rule, the number of passengers in a vehicle will be dependent on its capacity as stipulated in the Road Transport Act 1987, he said.

"For a private car with the capacity of four, a driver with three passengers will be allowed, while an MPV can take up to seven persons," he told a daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

This came after the government gazetted the new set of rules under Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, which will take effect tomorrow, he said.

Ismail, however, said other conditions would be applicable, such as the driver and passengers being from the same family and living in the same house.

During the early stage of the movement control order (MCO), the government allowed only one person per vehicle starting April 1, eventually relaxing the rule to two persons per car on April 28.

The government then gave leeway to a maximum of four persons per car when the conditional MCO was imposed on May 4.

Meanwhile, Ismail said a total of 738 drivers who attempted to make interstate trips to return to their hometowns were instructed by police to turn their vehicles around yesterday.

Of that 738, the highest cases were recorded in Selangor with 317. This was followed by 89 cases in Malacca and 80 in Kedah.

Ismail noted that some Malaysians who managed to go back are now stuck in their hometowns after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

He then cited Public Service Department director-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, who warned civil servants they risk losing their jobs if they get stuck at their hometowns and are unable to return to work.

"If they obtain permission to come back (to work after Hari Raya), then they are smart.

"But for those who can't get approval (to make interstate trips), action will be taken by the police. Just pay the compound (fine) and come back (to work)," Ismail said.

"We do not prohibit them from coming back to work. In fact, we encourage them to do so. It is better that you pay the fine but you can continue to work (instead of losing your job)," he said.

"The worst scenario is just paying the compound, so just come back."

Ismail, however, said it is the authorities' discretion in dealing with the matter and the police will continue to set roadblocks at the tolls to curb interstate travel.

Interstate travel was banned during the MCO and remains restricted during the conditional MCO period. - Mkini