Cooperate with those on duty or face imprisonment, fine - Ismail Sabri

Malaysians returning from abroad who refuse to cooperate with frontliners, including health personnel, face imprisonment and being fined.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they can be charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duties which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine of up to RM10,000 or both, if convicted.

“Obstructing the duties of a civil servant is not just confined to policemen, but any civil servant on COVID-19 duties, including health personnel, nurses and doctors.

“The meeting today decided that stern action will be taken against violators under section 186 of the Penal Code,” he said after the Special Ministerial Meeting on the MCO today.

He was responding to the issue in which a doctor had lamented on social media how some individuals returning from abroad were not only cooperating with health personnel but also were guilty of criticising and treating them poorly.

The doctor’s frustrations drew the attention of netizens who were quick to condemn their actions and labelled them as ‘kluster kayangan’ (well to do cluster).

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri, who is also Defence Minister, said up to last Thursday, 156 quarantine centres have been operational compared to 146 the day before, with 11, 445 individuals now undergoing the mandatory quarantine process.

At the same time, 386 Malaysians who returned from abroad yesterday have also been placed under mandatory quarantine.

He said the government was always listening to the problems faced by Malaysians abroad and was now monitoring their situation overseas, such as those in India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey through the Malaysian embassies there.

“The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) is also working hard to bring home those stranded abroad.

“So far, 80 Malaysians have returned from Saudi Arabia with the help and contribution of the Saudi government, another 285 Malaysians have safely arrived from Egypt while 81 more Malaysians are scheduled to be back from India and Sri Lanka on April 14.

“A total of 355 Malaysians who are in Algeria and Tunisia will also be flown home with the costs borne by the Japan Oil Corporation,” he said.