KUALA LUMPUR: The third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which unleashed its fury on several parts of the country not only affected Malaysia but also other countries around the world.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said global Covid-19 cases have reached 38.4 million with 1.09 million fatalities reported around the world.
He said it was imperative for the people in the country to continue practicing self-regulation apart from complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) enforced by the government to protect themselves, families and the community from being exposed to the virus.
"Until a Covid-19 vaccine is found, we will be surrounded by individuals who may be carriers of the virus.
"That is why it is important for all of us to continue practising self-regulation and adhere to the SOPs irrespective if we are residing in areas placed under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) or the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
"I also want to reiterate that the SOPs enforced during the RMCO is still in force and that we should continue to comply with it to protect ourselves, our family members, friends and the community," he said during a press conference that was aired live from his residence.
Ismail Sabri also reiterated his previous calls for the people to work with the authorities to flatten the pandemic curve by assuming the role of frontliners.
"We should not only be afraid (and respect and work closely) with the frontliners… we should also assume their roles to break the transmission chain of the virus," he said.
On a related matter, he said a total 284 people were arrested by the police for violating the RMCO, which entered its 126th day on Tuesday.
Of the group, 134 of them were arrested for not wearing face masks, followed by 68 individuals who had engaged in activities that made physical distancing difficult and 33 owners of business premises who did not provide proper equipment and entry logs.
Others arrested included 20 people who violated the CMCO, 16 premises which operated beyond the permitted hours, eight individuals engaging in entertainment activities prohibited during the RMCO and three people who refused to undergo Covid-19 screening.
"A total 278 of those arrested were slapped with compounds while the rest were remanded to facilitate investigations into the offences committed during the RMCO," he said.
The MCO Operation Task Force headed by the police, he said, conducted 7,077 checks nationwide to ensure the people complied with the SOPs.
"The team inspected 3,574 supermarkets, 4,466 restaurants, 1,129 hawkers as well as 1,833 public and agro-markets," he said.
The National Task Force in charge of the integrated Op Benteng, said Ismail Sabri, arrested 137 illegal immigrants and seized two land vehicles at 282 roadblocks nationwide mounted separately by the police, armed forces and the Malaysian Border Security Agency.