Administrative EMCO in Aman Jaya, Kedah effective midnight - Ismail Sabri

The government will enforce the administrative Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Aman Jaya, Kedah starting midnight tonight until a date to be announced later.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it would involve 22,360 households (265 houses) in three zones namely Kenanga, Mawar and Melur and they would be screened by the Ministry of Health (MoH) staff.

He said residents are not allowed to leave, while outsiders are not allowed to enter these zones even for work and roadblocks would also be set up by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to monitor movements.

"Individuals who need to work are not allowed to leave the area during the administrative EMCO, and those from outside are also not allowed to come to work in the area," he told a press conference here today.

Ismail Sabri reminded the employers not take action if any of their workers could not come to work because they reside in the affected areas and advised them to allow their employees to work from home.

Ismail Sabri said public places such as mosques and houses of worship as well as educational institutions including schools, nurseries and tuition centres were also ordered to close during the administrative EMCO period.

Only essential services are allowed to operate such as eateries, grocery shops, petrol stations, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals, he said.

"Restaurants and eateries can only serve takeout food from 8 am to 8 pm. Pharmacies can also operate until 8 pm," he said, adding that clinics and hospitals are allowed to open 24 hours.

Night market and farmers market operations are not allowed and only the daily markets can operate from 6 am to 2 pm, while for petrol stations and grocery shops, the operating hours are from 8 am to 8 pm.

Ismail Sabri added that only one family representative would be permitted to leave the house every day to buy food or necessities.

-- BERNAMA