Armed Forces can detain, take action against MCO violators - Ismail Sabri

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said under the implementation of the Emergency Ordinance, the authority held by the police and army are the same and this will help efforts to manage the COVID-19 situation better.

“If previously the armed forces could only take action if there was border intrusion, now they can detain suspects for further action without the presence of police,” he said at the media conference about the development of the MCO today.

He said it will be in effect throughout the entire duration of the enforcement of the Emergency Ordinance until August.

On Tuesday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah proclaimed that an emergency that would be enforced up to Aug 1 as a proactive measure to contain the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

Ismail Sabri also said that the police will not compromise and will take stern action against those who intend to cross state lines especially in MCO areas beginning Saturday.

He said compounds will be issued on the field for violating the order.

“For the period of three days till tomorrow, we (the government) are still in the ‘mood’ of advising and no action will be taken. But after tomorrow, the police will no longer compromise,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said states under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the Recovery MCO (RMCO) can have the MCO enforced on them if the Health Ministry discovers a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases.

In other developments, he said the department heads of the civil service need to consider a rotation system and the option of working from home for parents who are working in essential services so that they can monitor their primary school children during their online learning sessions.