PUTRAJAYA: There has been an increase in the number of motorists told to turn back as they attempted to "balik kampung" yesterday, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Defence Minister said the number of vehicles forced to turn back doubled from 508 on Friday to 1,248 on Saturday.
"Despite warnings, there are still people attempting to go back to their hometowns by giving all kinds of excuses.
"Once the police starts issuing the RM1,000 compound, the (flouters) will be on the losing end," he told a press conference today.
Yesterday, the police conducted 147 interstate roadblocks nationwide and checked 218,027 vehicles.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Senior Minister (Security Cluster), reminded the public to be patient and to adhere to all standard operating procedures (SOP) under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
"Be patient. If we all obey the SOPs and the Covid-19 trend decreases, insya-Allah the CMCO will be lifted and we will be free to go back (to our hometowns)," he added.