KUALA LUMPUR: The daily surge of new Covid-19 cases in Sabah has prompted the government to impose travel restrictions from the state to the Peninsula, Sarawak and Labuan from Oct 12 until Oct 25.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in announcing this, however said special special exemptions would be granted for select cases such as emergencies, death in a family, essential services as well as others matters that receive permission from the police.
"Those who have been granted permission are required to undergo Covid-19 screening by the Health Ministry at their end destination," said the minister, who is also the Senior Defence Minister.
Ismail Sabri also listed the categories of people allowed to enter Sabah.
These, he said, include Sabahans who are code 'H' MyKad holders, spouses of Sabahans with valid immigration passes issued by the State Immigration Department or with proof of marriage and birth certificate; those working in essential services holding valid immigration passes by the State Immigration Department; as well as non-Sabahan students with valid student cards or passes issued by the State Immigration Department.
Also allowed to enter Sabah include members of the Federal Civil Services who are posted in the state. They would be required to obtain a stamp under Section 66(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 from the Sabah Immigration Department office upon entering the state.
Also permitted to enter the state are Sabah MyPR permanent residents who bear the 'H' code, Entry Permit Card holders and those with entry permit endorsements on their passport.
"The travelers listed above must submit an application with the Sabah Domestic Affairs and Research Office for consideration. They are required to be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival at their end destination," he said.
Meanwhile, on a related matter, Ismail Sabri said a total of 363 people were arrested by the police on Monday (Oct 5) for flouting the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Those who failed to wear face masks made up the highest number of those arrested with 144, followed by 129 owners of premises who did not have proper equipment or maintain entry logs, as well as 53 people who had engaged in activities that made physical distancing difficult.
Also penalised were 17 business premises which operated beyond permitted hours; pubs and nightclubs goers (15); two people who had trespassed into Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) areas; an individual who violated the mandatory quarantine; one individual who had engaged in gambling activities; and another person who didn't have valid travel documents.
"From those arrested, 307 of them were issued with compounds. The rest were remanded to facilitate investigation," he said.
The MCO Operation Task Force headed by the police, he said, conducted 34,637 inspections nationwide on Monday.
"Checks were carried out on 3,024 supermarkets, 3,628 restaurants, 1,303 hawkers, 1,063 factories, 2,766 banks and 685 government offices.
"Inspections were also conducted to monitor the operations at 809 land transport terminals, 257 water transport terminals and 154 air transport terminals," he said.
He said the National Task Force in charge of Op Benteng detained 151 illegal immigrants and a boat skipper, as well as seizing five land vehicles at 133 road block nationwide.
The roadblocks were conducted separately by the police, Malaysia Border Security Agency and the Armed Forces.
Ismail Sabri said 32,235 individuals had completed their 14-day compulsory quarantine and were allowed to return home.
They were among 42,000 individuals returning from abroad or permitted to enter the country between July 24 and Oct 5.