GEORGE TOWN: A woman cried while begging authorities not to compound her after she was caught crossing district line to visit a jewellery store at Kompleks Bukit Jambul here this afternoon.
The 58-year-old woman from Bayan Lepas told authorities that she did not have any money to buy jewellery and was only there for window shopping.
Besides her, a 23-year-old woman, from Balik Pulau, was also caught committing the same offence.
Although she produced a MITI (International Trade and Industry Ministry) letter which allows her to cross district line for work, she was still issued with a compound.
Authorities told her the MITI letter was for work purposes and not for her to stop in any premises for invalid reasons.
Both women were caught by northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong during a SOP compliance integrated operations by police, the Penang Island City Council, the state Health Department, the state National Registration Department and the state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP).
They were each slapped with RM5,000 compound.
Speaking to newsmen later, Soffian said during today's checks, they found that there were still people crossing district lines although there was a ban in place following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
"Many who were staying in the southwest district have travelled to Kompleks Bukit Jambul for shopping, even then for non-essential items.
"There are those buying jewellery while others were buying cell phones. They claimed they were unaware that Kompleks Bukit Jambul was in the northeast district," he said.
Soffian said they would continue with such operations to ensure everyone strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) put in place, more so the positive Covid-19 cases were at an all time high now.
Malaysia today logged 9,020 positive Covid-19 cases. Penang reported 345 cases.