KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 — The interstate and interdistrict travel restriction is still in force despite the movement control order (MCO) has been lifted in several states beginning this Friday (February 19).
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said although most states would be placed under the conditional MCO (CMCO) and the recovery MCO (RMCO), interstate and interdistrict travel was still not allowed.
He said based on the report of the Health Ministry, the relaxation on interstate travel given at the end of last year has led to a spike in Covid-19 cases, hence the ban.
“For example, in Kelantan, after the interstate travel was allowed, almost 65 per cent of districts turned into red zones and the state was placed under MCO.
“Therefore, the interstate travel is still not allowed,” he said at a press conference on MCO development at Wisma Pertahanan, here.
The MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang has been extended for another two weeks from Friday.
The other states that were under MCO previously will now be subjected to the CMCO, also effective February 19 to March 4, while Perlis will now be the only state with RMCO status.
Ismail Sabri also said that the 10km radius travel limit in the same district in all states, has been lifted, effective immediately.
He said it is no longer irrelevant to impose the travel restriction as more economic and social activities have now been allowed to operate.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said 596 individuals were arrested yesterday for violating various MCO order standard operating procedures.
He said of this number, 532 people were issued with compound while 64 were remanded.
Among the offences committed were not practising physical distancing involving 155 individuals, inter-district and interstate travel without permission (134), not wearing face masks (121).
As for Op Benteng, Ismail Sabri said one illegal immigrant and two smugglers were nabbed while 11 foreigners were chased away for attempting to enter the country illegally.
— Bernama
