Although the enforcement of the movement control order to sever the Covid-19 infection chain has entered its tenth day today, there are still people who were flouting it and have been arrested by the authorities.

As of 6pm today alone, 88 individuals in seven states had been arrested by the authorities for allegedly flouting the order and Sarawak had the highest number at 37 people.

According to Sarawak Police Commissioner Aidi Ismail, all 37 people, 33 of whom were men, were detained in 10 separate locations in the state during the last 12 hours (since 7pm on Thursday).

Nineteen individuals were also arrested in Johor, namely, in Mersing (11) and eight youths in Kota Tinggi for not complying with the order.

Six of the nineteen individuals were a group of youths arrested while preparing a party in Sri Lanang Square at around 5.30 pm to celebrate the birthday of one of the teenagers, said Kota Tinggi district police chief Supt Ahsmon Bajah.

Three other men, in their 20s, were arrested when they were found gathering and chatting in Jalan Tanjung, Felda Sungai Sibol area last night.

Among the eleven people arrested in Mersing were juveniles and all of them were arrested while riding motorcycles or gathering outside houses between 11.15pm and 2.05am, said Mersing district police chief Supt Cyril Edward Nuing.

Labuan police chief, Supt Muhamad Farid Ahmad, on the other hand, disclosed that two individuals, aged in their 30’s and 40’s, were arrested while loitering at a public place in Ujung Pasir, near the Utama Jaya shop-lots building around 10 pm.

The two men were arrested after they failed to give reasonable excuses for loitering when questioned.

A 16-year-old was arrested while playing sepak takraw with his friends at a housing estate in Pekan, Pahang at about 7.20pm, but his friend escaped, according to Pekan district police chief Supt Mohd Razli Mohd Yusof .

Joggers and footballers arrested

Padang Besar district police chief Supt Muhamad Halim Yatim also announced the arrest of two men, aged 64 and 45, as they were still in a sundry shop at 12.15pm, exceeding the allowed time of 10pm.

Five of the twelve individuals arrested in the North East district, Penang were nabbed while intoxicated while seven others were jogging and playing football at a field on Jalan DS Ramanathan, Pulau Tikus, according to North East district police chief ACP Soffian Santong.

Meanwhile, North Seberang Perai district police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the police detained nine people, including two Thai women, all aged between 20 and 45, who had gathered in public areas and failed to comply with the movement control order.

Seven men, aged 27 to 46, were arrested in Langkawi after flouting the order by gathering outside the quarters of a motel on Jalan Pantai Chenang and refusing to leave after being advised to do so, according to Langkawi district police chief Supt Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim.

All suspects arrested in the seven states are under investigation under Section 22 (b) of the Prevention of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and Regulation (3) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Declaration of Infected Local Area) 2020 or under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing civil servants from performing their duties.

- Bernama