No train, no pain: EMCO for Health Ministry Training Institute in JB

KUALA LUMPUR: The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) will be imposed on the Health Ministry Training Institute in Johor Baru, for 14 days, starting today until Nov 16.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the move was to curb the spread of Covid-19 after 46 individuals, out of 1,515 screened, tested positive for Covid-19.

“The National Security Council (NSC) special meeting has received an application from the Health Ministry on the need to impose EMCO on the Health Ministry Training Institute in Johor Baru.

“The move involves 1,559 individuals, namely the trainees, staff and their family members, and support staff.

“The same standard operating procedures (SOP) on EMCO at other places apply,” he told a press conference yesterday.

“All movements in and out of the training centre are not allowed throughout the EMCO period, except for emergency cases.”

Ismail Sabri also said the EMCO imposed on Kepayan Prison and Prison Department Quarters in Kampung Matambai, Sabah, which was scheduled to end today, would be extended until Nov 16.

The EMCO in the areas was first imposed on Oct 20.

Ismail Sabri said up to Sunday, 1,671 individuals there had tested positive. He added that 3,509 individuals were screened involving the prisoners, staff and their family members.

Ismail Sabri said the EMCO at Kampung Saguking Laut and Kampung Sebor Baru in Labuan, would end today.

He said, however, as Sabah was still under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), both areas would be placed under the order starting tomorrow.

Ismail Sabri also said the government had agreed to some amendments to the SOP at several localities in Sabah that were currently under the EMCO.

He said this was decided after a suggestion by the Sabah government to the NSC.

He said the change would see one representative of a family allowed to leave the EMCO area to buy necessities, with approval from the police.

Ismail Sabri said some residents were facing difficulty to buy necessities from shops, despite the permitted business operating hours of between 6am and 6pm.

“Among the difficulties include withdrawing money from banks and the unavailability of certain products at nearby shops, such as baby formula, diapers, detergent and medicines.

“Therefore, one representative of a family will be allowed to go out to withdraw money and buy the necessities and non-food items,” he said.

He said markets were also allowed to operate twice a week at EMCO areas, from 6am to 2pm.

“However, this amendment does not apply to prisons and temporary detention centres in Sabah.”

On the SOP for the Deepavali celebration on Nov 14, Ismail Sabri said it would be announced this week.

“The first draft of the SOP was tabled during the NSC special meeting last Friday by National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique.

“However, the NSC is working to improve the SOP, with some input from the Health Ministry.

“I believe it will be announced within a day or two since the Deepavali festival is getting closer.”

He said the NSC needed more time to look into the proposed SOP since several areas in the country had been placed under different movement control orders.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has formulated SOP for several religious celebrations, including Hari Raya.

In another development, Ismail Sabri said 538 individuals were arrested by the police on Sunday for flouting the Recovery Movement Control Order.

“From this, 531 were slapped with compounds, while seven others were remanded.”

He said in Op Benteng, authorities arrested four undocumented immigrants and one skipper, other than seizing eight land vehicles and a boat.

Source: NST