11 special prisons gazetted for MCO detainees - Ismail Sabri

The Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) has gazetted 11 temporary prisons for detainees who violated the Movement Control Order (MCO) following the advice of the Attorney-General's Chambers, Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

In a daily press conference here today, the Bera MP said the prisons would operate from April 23 and the Ministry of Health (MOH) would assist in providing healthcare personnel.

“As I have announced recently, the government will set up special prisons for detainees who defy the MCO. To date, the government through the KDN has gazetted 11 temporary prisons,” he added.

On the daily statistics of the MCO, he said 1,111 individuals were arrested yesterday compared to 1,565 individuals the previous day for violating the MCO. Of the number, 997 people were remanded and 114 others released on police bail.

The total number of cumulative arrests of the MCO by April 18, 2020 (yesterday), he said, was 14,750 individuals.

He added 820 roadblocks were conducted nationwide, involving 451,487 vehicles and 51,706 surprise checks were carried out nationwide, with 5,861 premises inspected by the authorities.

In a separate development, Ismail Sabri said the government has decided to limit the operation of the automated teller machines (ATM) between 8 am and 8 pm only.

“Many have given the excuse to withdraw money because ATMs operate 24 hours. So many went out beyond the permitted time ... some as late as midnight because of an emergency (to withdraw money),” he said.

“So, today’s meeting decided ATM operations are limited from 8 am to 8 pm only. There is no more reason to go out in the middle of the night to withdraw money,” he added.