KUALA LUMPUR – Joggers must not venture outside their neighbourhoods, with cops authorised to check their identification documents to confirm their home address, said Ampang Jaya police.
District police chief Mohamad Farouk Eshak, in a statement today, said if joggers are not in their own neighbourhoods or housing areas as stated on their MyKad or other identification documents, they would be in violation of movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedures.
Action can be taken under Regulation 17 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (Movement Control) Ordinance (No. 2) 2021, he said.
Since the third MCO took effect on May 12, he said, district police have issued compounds to 209 individuals and arrested three.
The offences include failure to wear a mask, operating businesses beyond the permitted hours, failure to ensure social distancing, and jogging outside one’s immediate neighbourhood.
Sixty-six compounds have been issued since the total lockdown took effect on June 1, he added.
An investigation has been opened into a man behind a Facebook post on the authorities issuing fines to joggers for breaching MCO rules.
Farouk said it follows a report lodged by an enforcement officer after the man’s post went viral.
He said the officer, who issued the compounds, said the suspect’s claims are baseless and have courted negative public perception.
“The complainant also said the comments (made by the man) are uncourteous and hideous. Ampang Jaya district police have started an investigation into the matter.”
Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that a 23-year-old man from Taman Mulia Jaya in Ampang claimed to have been issued a RM1,500 compound for jogging in Taman Tar, 6.6km from his home.
Farouk said the case has been classified under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) for sharing offensive and menacing content.
The man faces a maximum fine of RM50,000, or one year’s jail, or both, under Section 233 of CMA, and a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine under Section 500 of the Penal Code, upon conviction.
“The public is asked to always be cautious when posting any status or comment on social media, and will be held responsible for the said status or comment if it is offensive to any party,” said Farouk.
The report comes after a team from the Hulu Klang police station conducted enforcement checks at the Jalan 1 Taman Tar jogging track about 5.45pm yesterday.
The team found 30 people jogging in the area, and following checks, issued compounds to eight who were exercising outside their immediate neighbourhoods. – The Vibes, June 7, 2021
