127 nabbed nationwide for being mask-less in public

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 127 people were detained yesterday for not wearing masks in public, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said they were among 315 people arrested by the police for breaching the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) yesterday.

Of the group, 150 were nabbed for failing to observe physical distancing, and 38 were picked up for engaging in activities which violated standard operating procedures (SOPs). Three were remanded and 312 were slapped with fines.

The government had mandated the wearing of masks in public nationwide, effective Aug 1.

Ismail Sabri also said 3,226 compliance teams involving 14,327 people had conducted 63,473 checks nationwide yesterday to monitor and enforce the RMCO SOP.

"The inspections were conducted at 3,821 supermarkets, 5,545 restaurants, 1,954 hawker stalls, 1,326 factories, 3,602 banks and 820 government offices," he said in a statement.

The teams even surveyed 1,132 land transport terminals, 138 water transport terminals, and 40 air transport terminals.

Ismail Sabri said police also checked up on 2,263 people who are undergoing 14-day mandatory quarantine at home.

He added that actions were taken against 28 of them for failing to comply with home quarantine SOPs.

Meanwhile, he said that between July 24 and Aug 1, 4,286 people flew into Malaysia and were placed at 16 hotels and five public training institutes in seven states to undergo the mandatory quarantine period; adding that 13 returnees were sent to hospitals for treatment.

On the nation's border control, the Senior Defence Minister said police conducted 64 roadblocks under Op Benteng to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country.

Ismail Sabri urged those with information on illegal immigrant smuggling activities to contact the National Task Force hotline at 011 6251 1223.