GEORGE TOWN – The Penang police chief has questioned the presence of crowds in the state over the weekend, saying this comes after residents have for months abided by Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
Datuk Mohd Suhaily Mohd Zain said Penangites should not follow in the footsteps of Klang Valley residents, who are seen out and about after the area entered Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan recently.
“Penang has been in Phase 2 since July, but why did the city become congested last weekend? We never had this problem before.
“I was shocked to see the roads here congested, and many locations were filled with people last weekend.
“I was so proud that Penangites were previously very compliant with the SOPs. The highways were empty, the restaurants were empty. Now, I am so surprised,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters here today.
Penang entered Phase 2 on July 7 and the Klang Valley, last Friday. Under the relaxed curbs, inter-district travel is allowed for individuals who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Suhaily said police will not hesitate to take action against Penang folk found to be participating in large gatherings.
So far, we have not taken action, but after this, we will be more assertive. Penangites need to remember that we are not the same as Kuala Lumpur, where new Covid-19 cases are in the triple digits. Penang’s tally is still in the thousands.”
He added that there is no terrorist threat in Penang despite the state having a number of Japanese nationals among its population.
State police will continue to maintain security for all parties, and nobody has to worry, he said.
“We met a representative from the Japanese consulate general three weeks ago, and Penang’s relationship with Japan is also quite good because there are Japanese schools here.
“So far, there is no need to worry. The threat of terrorism is low or non-existent.”
The Japanese embassy has issued a security advisory to its citizens in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar, urging them to avoid places of interest.
There are an estimated 31,000 Japanese nationals residing in Malaysia. – The Vibes, September 14, 2021
