KUALA LUMPUR – Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has attributed the decreasing number of daily Covid-19 cases to interstate and inter-district travel restrictions, and high compliance to standard operating procedures (SOPs) among the public.
He noted that since the record-high 5,725 cases at the end of last month, infections have dwindled considerably to just over 2,000 currently.
Speaking at a press conference, Ismail said data from the Health Ministry showed that one of the main contributors to this is the effort taken by the government to control movement across state and district lines.
“Restriction on movement came following the increase in new Covid-19 clusters stemming from those travelling back to their hometowns and going on holidays,” he said.
“Another factor is the increasing compliance of the rakyat to the SOPs. The government sees that they are now very disciplined and aware of their surroundings.
“In fact, a study by Universiti Teknologi Mara conducted from August up to this month also found that the (SOP) compliance rate is very high,” he added, without elaborating on the figures.
However, Ismail said he notes there is still confusion in certain quarters, including the police, after a recent case went viral, claiming an individual was issued a compound for inter-district travel despite not crossing borders.
It was claimed that the individual had travelled from Subang Jaya to Bukit Jelutong, both under the Petaling district.
She was, however, issued the fine and was told that Subang Jaya and Bukit Jelutong fall under different district police headquarters, which caused confusion among many Malaysians.
In clarifying the matter, Ismail said the issuance of compounds is based on the government’s definition of district line, not that of district police headquarters.
“I have personally informed the police on this matter. For those who have been issued compounds for this reason, you can file an appeal at your respective district health offices,” he said.
Ismail also reminded Malaysians that any individual compounded for SOP violation offences can similarly appeal to the Health Ministry for a lower fine.
“The RM1,000 fine is the maximum. You can still file an appeal and state your reasons before making payment. If passed, the fine can even be reduced to RM100 or RM50.
“However, this is up to the discretion of the health officers in charge. I hope there is no more confusion,” he said.
On suggestions that the government continues to flip-flop on SOPs, Ismail stressed that it is merely making changes based on the current needs and situation.
“For instance, many businesses initially could not operate under the movement control order. But we relaxed some restrictions to assist the rakyat to earn some income. That does not mean we are flip-flopping.
“The decisions were made based on certain interests, and as such, the SOPs also have to be tweaked. If we keep to the same (restrictions), I believe many won’t be able to continue earning,” he said. – The Vibes, February 23, 2021
