Ismail Sabri speaks at the press conference. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The RM1,000 fine imposed on flouters of the Movement Control Order (MCO) is probably too low to stop them from doing it, says Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Hence, he said the government might ask the Ministry of Health (MoH) to discuss with the Attorney-General regarding the possibility to raise the fine or jail sentence imposed on those who violated the order.
“I don’t know why many people are still flouting the MCO, I can’t be sure…maybe the RM1,000 fine is too low. If we look at other countries, Singapore for example, starting April 17, anyone who commits the first offence (against such order) will face a fine of S$10,000, while for the second offence, S$20,000,” he told the daily press conference on MCO here yesterday.
Ismail Sabri said 666 people had been arrested for flouting the MCO so far – 392 of whom were issued with the RM1,000 compound, 363 were remanded for further investigation, and 11 were released on police bail.
He said the total number of MCO flouters arrested since the implementation of the MCO on March 18, was 7,479.
“As announced yesterday, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) personnel would also assist the police and the armed forces in mounting roadblocks nationwide.
“With this new cooperation with the JPJ, more roadblocks will be conducted and the police can also increase patrols, spot- checks and other necessary inspections,” he said.
The minister said the 755 roadblocks were mounted by the police and the armed forces nationwide yesterday, during which 508,605 vehicles were inspected.
At the same time, he said 38,854 spotchecks were done across the country and 5,538 premises were also checked by the local authorities.
On public sanitisation operations, he said since March 30, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government had implemented 1,125 sanitisation operations in 83 zones, including 24 red zones and 15 orange zones.
“Yesterday, 171 public sanitisation operations were carried out involving 51 zones in 12 states, including 43 areas in Johor and 39 areas in Kuala Lumpur.
“Areas that have been disinfected also include 773 government buildings, 496 public places, 422 business centres and 100 hypermarkets,” he said.
Four Public Housing Project (PPR) areas had also been disinfected Thursday, bringing the total to 34 PPR areas involving 34,295 residential units, added Ismail Sabri. — Bernama