PETALING JAYA – Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed has confirmed that he has instructed his men to accept expired International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) letters for employee movement until June 3.
In a brief message to The Vibes, Arjunaidi confirmed earlier reports quoting Petaling Jaya police chief Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid that compounds will only be issued from Friday onwards.
“I have already given the instructions (to accept the letters),” he said.
He also said he wanted the public, especially those who have used the old Miti letters that expired on May 31, to feel assured, and that they should not abuse the flexibility accorded to them to travel to work and home freely.
On what happens if Miti is unable to fix glitches in its system which is currently causing employers problems in downloading new letters, Arjunaidi indicated that he will take a wait-and-see approach.
Fakhrudin had told a press conference earlier that many motorists have been found to be using the old letters today, the first day of a two-week total lockdown aimed at curbing Covid-19.
After Thursday, police will start issuing compounds, he said.
“Some said the new ones are pending, while others said they applied only yesterday night.
“So, as per the orders of the state police chief, we will allow the use of the old letters when we inspect cars at roadblocks until June 3.”
He said police have advised those stopped at roadblocks to get their employers to apply for new Miti approval letters, or authorisation letters from the relevant ministries.
Petaling Jaya police will man six permanent and 10 mobile roadblocks during the lockdown period.
Yesterday, the National Security Council (NSC) said it will create a one-stop centre facilitated by Miti for all applications for approval letters by essential sectors, which are allowed to open during the lockdown.
In a statement, the NSC said fresh applications for permission to travel for work must be done through the ministry’s Covid-19 Intelligent Management System 3.0.
It came at the end of a disastrous day for business owners trying to apply with separate ministries to secure approval to operate.
The NSC had announced that all letters issued by Miti previously would expire yesterday, and essential businesses and services must reapply. – The Vibes, June 1, 2021
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