EMCO at four areas end today - Ismail Sabri

The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) imposed at four areas including the Penang Remand Prison and its staff quarters in the Timur Laut district, end today.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the EMCO at the Mutiara Kasih Apartment and Taman Khazanah Indah in Lahad Datu, Sabah scheduled to end on Nov 23, was also brought forward to today.

"The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has carried out 1,178 screenings with 189 positive COVID-19 cases recorded in the prison area. However, the risk assessment conducted by the MOH found that the case situation showed a declining and controlled trend as the last positive case was detected on Nov 5,” he said during his press conference at Wisma Pertahanan here today.

He said based on the advice and risk assessment done by MOH, it had been agreed for the EMCO imposed on the Penang Remand Prison and prison quarters to end as scheduled today.

The EMCO at the prison was first enforced from Oct 15 until Oct 28 and later extended to Nov 11.

As for the Mutiara Kasih Apartment and Taman Khazanah Indah, Lahad Datu, Ismail Sabri said the MOH found that no new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the two localities in the last 18 days.

He said on Nov 9, the EMCO for both the areas was extended until Nov 23 as the MOH was still waiting for the results of the residents’ screenings.

Ismail Sabri said results of all the 5,189 samples taken during the second screening came back negative yesterday and, based on MOH's advice and risk assessment, today’s meeting agreed to end the EMCO imposed in the two areas.

Meanwhile, he said the EMCO enforced from today on Medan 88, Salak Tinggi, Sepang in Selangor involved a total of 88 units of shophouses, 284 premises and 800 residents.

"The EMCO will allow the MOH to continue carrying out targeted screenings and restrict the movement of individuals to break the chain of COVID-19 infection in the community.

"The SOP (standard operating procedure) for the EMCO is the same as announced previously. However, business premises selling essential items are allowed to operate," he said, adding that, as of Nov 5, a total of 39 COVID-19 positive cases had been recorded in the area.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said a total of 536 individuals were arrested for violating the RMCO yesterday, with 40 of them detained for interstate or interdistrict travelling without obtaining proper permission.

He said other offences included failure to observe physical distancing (153), failure to wear face masks (134), failure to provide equipment for registering customers (107), premises operating beyond stipulated operating hours (37), taking part in activities at entertainment centres (eight) and others (57).

According to him, a total of 527 individuals were compounded, eight were remanded and one released on bail.

"Yesterday, 31 illegal immigrants and five smugglers were detained under Ops Benteng and six land vehicles were seized nationwide.

"Members of the public are urged to contact the National Task Force hotline at ‪011-62511223‬ to continue relaying information on illegal immigrants and cross-border crimes," he said.