4,839 vehicles ordered to turn back at roadblocks on Friday - DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,839 vehicles were ordered to turn back at roadblocks on Friday (July 16), the highest number since the National Recovery Plan (PPN) was implemented, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said those ordered to turn back were believed to be heading to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha.

"Police will take stern action against any individual who tries to cross states to return to their hometowns and disobey their instructions," he said in a statement on the development of the PPN today.

Yesterday, police inspected 381,952 vehicles at roadblocks nationwide in a bid to prevent interdistrict and interstate movements.

Ismail Sabri said the government's decision not to allow the public to cross states, especially ahead of the Aidiladha celebration on Tuesday (July 20), was to curb the possibility of positive cases emerging from community clusters linked to the celebration.

Ismail Sabri said the increased number of cases and clusters due to interstate movements during the Aidilfitri celebration in May should be a lesson for all parties not to take lightly the compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP).

"The interstate travel ban and the ban on visiting and celebrating festivals during the pandemic does not mean that we do not love our parents and families, who are in their hometowns.

"On the contrary, it is a more responsible choice in order to protect our loved ones," he said.

On the progress of the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), the Deputy Prime Minister said 14 more EMCOs have been implemented involving localities in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Perak from July 20 to Aug 2.

In Sabah, the EMCO has been implemented in eight more areas, including two localities in Sipitang, namely Kampung Long Kiangan and Kampung Ranau-Ranau; and four localities in the Likas sub-district of Kota Kinabalu (Taman Teluk Likas, Kampung Gusung, Taman Kurnia Jaya and Permai Kaya factory quarters).

Also placed under the EMCO are Kampung Muhibbah and Kampung Bakalau, Beaufort; Agathis plantation, Kalabakan; two villages in Sipitang (Kampung Solob and Kampung Tunas Baru); Kampung Dandulit Matunggong, Kudat and Kampung Nosoob, Penampang.

Ten localities in the Batang Padang sub-district, Batang Padang district, namely (Taman Tapah /Taman Bunga Raya and Kampung Datuk, Taman Sri Damai 1 /Taman Sri Damai 2, Taman Sri Tapah, Taman Tapah 2, Taman Sri Asoka, Kg Baru Kg Pahang, Kampung Batu 5 Tapah Road, Kampung Baru Pekan Getah, Kampung Batu Melintang and Kampung Tanah Mas will also be placed under the EMCO.

Also listed are three localities in the Bidor sub-district, namely Taman Awam 3 Bidor/Taman Permata Bidor, Taman Sri Bidor and Taman Bidor Jaya/Kampung Cegar Tambahan/Kampung Cegar.

The EMCO in Sarawak will involve Kampung Emperoh Nyiru Grait, Kuching while in Kelantan it will involve two localities in the Bukit Jawa sub-district of Pasir Puteh, namely Kampung Lepah and Kampung Alor Hijau.

Ismail Sabri, meanwhile, said 62 factories, business premises and construction sites were ordered to close yesterday for failing to comply with the SOP.

-- BERNAMA