The viral message that made the rounds on WhatsApp and social media.
SIBU: A viral message circulating on WhatsApp and social media saying that the police will be detaining those that go out after 8pm tomorrow is fake, said Sibu police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit.
“Fake news,” Stanley said when contacted via WhatsApp today.
The viral message claimed that the police will enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO) from 8pm tonight and are asking everyone to stay indoor.
According to them message, the police are asking anyone who is outside of the house to go home immediately, claiming that the police will be setting up road blocks and those staying outside of the house without a valid reason can be detained under the Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
The message also stated that the police will be tolerant tonight but will strictly enforce the law starting tomorrow.
Earlier, when met during a road block at Lanang Bridge here, Stanley said that no arrest will be made for those defying the MCO for now.
He said that policemen will go out and set up 24-hours roadblock not to catch offenders but to advise them to stay home during the MCO period.
“That’s the order we received from our headquarters. If they gather, we will tell them to disperse.
“As for those going from one place to another unnecessarily, we will tell them to go home,” he said.
Stanley said that they will conduct round-the-clock roadblock at Lanang Bridge throughout MCO period until March 31.
He said that police personnel will distribute leaflets on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) prevention to road users during the road block.
Also present were Criminal Investigation Department chief DSP Hadian Keria.