Recovery MCO: SOP compliance on the decline

There is a decline in the level of compliance by individuals and business premises with standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the recovery movement control order (MCO), based on police monitoring over the past three days.

Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK) director Zainal Abidin Kasim said the situation was disturbing as it could lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases if people continue not to adhere to SOPs set by the government.

“There are eight locations being monitored. Among them are restaurants, mosques, places of worship, bus stations, LRT (Light Rail Transit), public transport vehicles, celebrations, schools, and universities.

“In monitoring compliance, it was found that some eateries, restaurants, bistros, and bars do not comply with social distancing at all,” he told a press conference today.

Apart from that, Zainal Abidin said police also found that more people did not comply with SOPs at recreational areas, including gathering in large numbers without social distancing and allowing children to mingle without control.

In this regard, he said the police would continue to take stern action by imposing a RM1,000 compound on any individual and business premise that fails to adhere to the SOPs, starting today.

“We will not be giving advice or warnings, stern action will continue to be taken starting today. The public can also lodge complaints with the police if they come across anyone not complying with the SOPs.

“For example, if at a party event you find that the waiters are not available, there is no social distancing, please inform us, we can stop the event,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zainal Abidin also made a surprise inspection on SOP compliance at a nasi kandar restaurant and shopping mall in Aman Jaya.

During the inspection, the restaurant was issued a RM1,000 compound for violating the SOP, including not recodgin customers’ body temperatures and not preparing a specific entrance and exit for customers.

- Bernama