Ismail: Cops tracking employers who bussed staff out of EMCO zone

 

Some of the 400 missing residents from Medan 88 were bussed out of the enhanced movement control order (MCO) zone by their employers, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed today.

The area was placed under a 14-day lockdown beginning today after Covid-19 cases were detected there.

The police have since been instructed to take action on both the runaways and employers who helped them escape.

“I was informed that some employers colluded with their workers, gave them buses and the like to take them out of the area.

“This will make it easier for the police because they can now track the workers through their employers.

“We (the National Security Council) have decided that action can be taken not just on the workers who ran away but also on employers who colluded with them. This is because they have troubled the authorities and placed the lives of others at risk,” Ismail said.

The minister did not detail when the workers were brought out of the locality.

Earlier, government newswire Bernama reported that half of the total number of residents at the locality had gone missing on the first day of the enhanced MCO.

Sepang Disaster Management Committee chairperson Mohamad Zain A Hamid was quoted as saying that some did not return home as soon as they learned about the lockdown. 

The vicinity also comprises 88 shophouses and 284 unspecified premises.

As of Nov 10, 40 positive Covid-19 cases were reported in the area.

Extended lockdown for Kudat villages

Meanwhile, the minister announced that an extension of the enhanced MCO imposed on three villages in Kudat, Sabah:

• Kampung Pengaraban
  
  
• Kampung Tanjung Kapor
  
  
• Kampung Landung Ayung

The localities will be under lockdown until Nov 26.

“As of Nov 11, the Health Ministry has performed 14,096 tests on local residents and all three localities continue to see active cases [...]

“The results for a large number of test samples are also pending,” Ismail said.

Kampung Pengaraban registered 21 active cases, Kampung Tanjung Kapor 10 cases and Kampung Landung Ayang 54 cases.  - Mkini