According to deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a total of 4,839 vehicles were ordered to turn back at roadblocks last Friday, the highest number since the National Recovery Plan (NRP) was implemented on June 1, 2021.
As reported by Bernama, Ismail Sabri said that those ordered to turn back were believed to be heading to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha, which falls on July 20 and 21 (certain states). “[The] police will take stern action against any individual who tries to cross states to return to their hometowns and disobey instruction,” he added.
On Sunday, police inspected 381,952 vehicles at roadblocks nationwide to prevent interdistrict and interstate movements. On the latter, documents from the ministry of international trade and industry (MITI) will not be accepted as a valid movement permit from July 18-21 to prevent irresponsible individuals from misusing such documents to be able to travel out of state.
Ismail Sabri said this is the curb the possibility of new Covid-19 cases emerging from community clusters linked to the upcoming celebration. Recalling the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration in May that saw a spike in the number of cases and clusters, he said this should be a lesson to all parties not to take lightly the compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP).
“The interstate travel ban and the ban on visiting and celebrating festivals during the pandemic does not mean that we do not love our parents and families, who are in their hometowns. On the contrary, it is a more responsible choice in order to protect our loved ones,” Ismail Sabri said.
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Why turn back only? Why not issue summons too?
Wau wau wau. Nak bawa covid to hometown ke.
Really stupid! Even with MITI letter, my operator was not allowed to work yesterday. If the productivity is affected, who is going to conpensate? As always, government is the first one wash their ass n go away!
Copy paste: “others put bodies inside the coffin so that you can put food on the table, enjoy your meal.”
Copy paste: “Dhivya continues by urging everyone to just stay at home. “We are still getting patients who are saying that they went out somewhere or met a colleague or are just going out in general because they had a MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) letter… I don’t understand, why is everyone still moving around?”
“A lot of people say, ‘Oh I managed to surpass the roadblock or there are no roadblocks around here’ but that shouldn’t be why you’re [not] staying at home”
“It’s so easy to say that this system failed or these rules and regulations were not placed when they were supposed to be placed. But what are we doing as the people to flatten the curve? I don’t think we’re doing enough because everyone is still out and about,” she expresses.
With these current high numbers, the doctor urges to just have a mentality that everyone is COVID positive until proven otherwise, “Whether it’s your neighbour, food delivery rider, that aunty that you go for walks with, the postage guy who delivers your parcel… your friends, family, anyone can be COVID positive at this point. So you just have to stick with that mentality.”
“At this point, there’s no reason for anyone to go out unless you are a frontliner, there is a huge emergency, or someone is literally dying. There are so many patients who are being brought in dead, who just suddenly collapse and nobody knows why. And when tested, they are COVID positive.”
“…there are still a lot of ignorant people roaming around, carrying the virus, spreading the virus. And until this stops, I don’t think this problem is ever gonna end.”
4839 turned back.
How many let go?
When will people learn?