PUTRAJAYA: The crime index nationwide dropped by 70 per cent throughout the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“I am aware there are members of the public who have been taking to social media expressing their concern over (the possibility of a rise in) crime index.
“Based on the statistics from the police, the crime index around the country has dropped significantly by 70 per cent during the implementation of the MCO,” said Ismail, who is also the Defence Minister, at a press conference today.
As of yesterday, he said a total of 6,452 people had been arrested for defying the MCO since the order came into force. A total of 567 had been charged in court.
“The police, together with the Malaysian Armed Forces, inspected 443,160 vehicles at 763 roadblocks nationwide on April 5.
“On the same day, the authorities also conducted 36,483 spot checks and examined 4,571 premises around the country,” he said.
Ismail said public compliance towards the MCO had improved, based the number of people arrested at roadblocks for defying MCO yesterday compared to the number of arrests made on Sunday.
“Police have arrested 403 people for defying the MCO at roadblocks yesterday, which is a reduction of 151 arrests compared to 554 people arrested the previous day,” he said.