MCO: Day 9 sees more arrests of defiant individuals

The government’s Movement Control Order (MCO) to contain COVID-19, which entered its ninth day yesterday saw sterner action on the part of the authorities, with more people across the nation being arrested for defying the order.

Among the latest arrests was a total of 15 people including a woman, who were detained yesterday and on Wednesday in several locations in Petaling Jaya, for non-compliance as their movement was not in accordance with regulation 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020.

Earlier last night, police also detained seven local men for contravening the MCO in two separate cases in Kuala Selangor and Bestari Jaya, while in Kedah, 11 men were arrested by police in Taman Selasih, Kulim for being involved in a fight and for not complying with the order.

In Sarawak, 28 individuals comprising 24 men and four women, were arrested on Wednesday for violating the MCO, an indication of the government’s seriousness in taking action against errant members of the public who were not staying put at home.

On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had announced that firmer action would be taken against defiant individuals in the second week of implementation of the MCO.

He said in the first week of implementation, police had adopted a gentle approach and had merely advised people to reduce their movement but this would change in the second week, with firmer action on the part of the police.- BERNAMA