Many still keen to 'balik kampung', attempts to sneak cross-border doubled

The number of vehicles attempting interstate travel to ‘balik kampung’ for raya has doubled to 3,212 vehicles on Tuesday as compared to 1,633 vehicles on Monday.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, the trend has shown that many were still keen to return to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri despite strict operations were in force.

As of yesterday, he said the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) had set up 216 roadblocks across the country and had inspected 318,082 vehicles.

“From the one thousand plus (on Monday) that we had regarded as high yesterday, it has gone up to 3,200 vehicles (on Tuesday).

“This means more and more people want to return to their village and are hoping to escape the roadblocks.

“So far, the police have been strict and have not allowed anyone to cross state borders to return to the village.

"Only emergency cases are allowed and they need to obtain the permission from the authorities," he told a daily press conference here Wednesday.