The second movement control order (MCO 2.0) implemented across a number of federal territories and states has been extended until Feb 4.

The states are Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, Sabah, and Kelantan, as well as the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan.

Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made based on the risk assessment and advice of the Ministry of Health (MOH) after finding that daily Covid-19 cases were still on the rise in those areas.

Following the extension, the end date for all states under the MCO will be the same, he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ismail said as of Jan 20, a total of 50,636 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Selangor, Sabah (45,008), Kuala Lumpur (19,411), Johor (14,539), Penang (6,540), Kelantan (2,387), Melaka (2,370 kes), Labuan (1,919 kes), and Putrajaya (637).

Meanwhile, he said the implementation of the enhanced MCO at the Westlite workers’ hostel in the Tampoi Jaya industrial park, Johor would be lifted tomorrow, as scheduled.

He said during the implementation of the enhanced MCO at the hostel which started on Dec 26 last year, 1,585 people have been screened, with 682 positive for Covid-19.

“The assessment conducted by the MOH during the period found that Covid-19 cases in the area showed a downward trend with the last case detected on Jan 15 and no more samples were taken, so far,” he said.

Ismail also said the Attorney-General’s Chambers would study laws that could be used for violations during the emergency period, for example, raising the compound against employers or individuals who violate the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“I hope it will be expedited so that we can implement it immediately as many companies appeared to have taken it lightly. The RM1,000 compound is too low for them,” he said.

Apart from that, he said employers who have been detected hiding their employees’ Covid-19 positive status would face action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

Ismail said the directive also applies to individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 but did not report it.

On the Compliance Operation Task Force, he said a total of 577 individuals were detained for violating the SOPs yesterday.

Of the total detained, 545 people were issued compounds while 32 were remanded, he added.

“Through Op Benteng, 12 illegal immigrants were detained and five land vehicles were seized,” Ismail said.

- Bernama