KUALA LUMPUR – Police have compiled a list of agencies and ministries responsible for issuing valid approval letters, which employees need in order to travel to their workplaces during the lockdown.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani in a statement said the new directive will come into effect on Tuesday.
He said the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) will be issuing the letters for the manufacturing and services sectors, while the Transport Ministry will do so for public transport and related sectors.
As for those under the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, including agriculture, fisheries, farming, livestock and related commodities, Acryl Sani said the ministry will issue letters only for smallholders.
He added that those with Companies Commission of Malaysia licences will have their letters issued by the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System, or CIMS, 3.0 under Miti.
The nation’s top cop said the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry will issue letters for agricultural commodities, such as palm oil and rubber.
“Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) permit holders, such as estates, nurseries, smallholders, as well as rubber sellers, traders and producers, can use approval letters issued by LGM or the ministry.”
For rubber product manufacturers, such as gloves, letters will be issued by CIMS 3.0.
Acryl Sani said Bank Negara Malaysia will issue letters for the financial and insurance sectors, while the Securities Commission will do so for those involved in stock transactions.
Approval letters for small traders, hawkers and food truck operators will be issued by the local authorities, while those in strata management, waste disposal and sanitisation will get theirs from CIMS 3.0, he added.
He said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry will issue letters for broadcasting, telecommunications, media and postal services.
The IGP said for sectors under the Home Ministry, they will receive documents issued by the relevant agencies and departments, such as the Immigration Department, National Registration Department and People’s Volunteer Corps.
Police will also issue travel permits for those eligible under the regulations, such as for emergencies and funerals, and for those who are self-employed, he added.
Acryl Sani said the mentioned documents must be dated June 1 onwards, adding that those without valid letters or who have expired ones will be instructed to turn back at roadblocks.
Self-employed individuals, such as labourers, plumbers and roadside sellers, should submit their application to police on a one-off basis between June 1 and 14.
“For workers in sectors that are not allowed to operate but need to reach their workplace for specific purposes, such as preparing documents or invoices, salary payments, and so on, approval from police will be given on a one-off basis for the duration of only two to three days.
“Letters from the employers must be presented as evidence.”
He said law practitioners who need to attend court to represent their clients for new cases must present printed documents or letters from their firms at roadblocks.
Any change to the current directive will be announced periodically, he added.
“The public is reminded to present the documents issued by the agencies and ministries listed when passing through roadblocks.
“Those who fail to present the approval letters, or use falsified ones, will face strict action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.”
The public can also lodge complaints related to standard operating procedure compliance by calling the Malaysian government call centre at 03-8000-8000, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. – The Vibes, June 6, 2021
