Total lockdown: Don't jog in other people's neighbourhood to avoid getting fined

 

Those who want to go jogging during the "total lockdown" should only do so in their own residential neighbourhood.

Police cautioned that being caught jogging in someone else's neighbourhood could land the individual a fine.

This was after Malaysiakini sought clarification from Ampang Jaya police over an incident where a 23-year-old man from Taman Mulia Jaya, Ampang, Selangor complained on Twitter that he was fined RM1,500 for jogging at Taman TAR, another neighbourhood located 6.6km away.

The National Security Council standard operating procedure stated that jogging and individual exercise are allowed in a neighbourhood area between 7am and 8pm, with no explicit mention it must only be the person's neighbourhood. 

Explaining the fine, Ampang Jaya district police chief Mohamad Farouk Eshak said authorities were forced to take action against those found to breach Covid-19 prevention SOPs.

"We have to take sterner actions to reduce the Covid-19 infection rates.

"Jogging alone is not an excuse to escape from being fined," he told Malaysiakini.

"Yes, you are allowed to jog on your own, but only in your own neighbourhood.

"Someone staying in Taman Mulia cannot jog in Taman TAR," Farouk said on the complainant's case.

He added that there were also cases where residents reported the presence of outsiders in their neighbourhood and police had moved to take action. - Mkini