JEMPOL – The interstate travel approval letter issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) for business and work purposes will not be accepted for four days from today as there have been cases of the permit being abused by people returning to their hometowns for Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a similar situation occurred during the Aidilfitri celebration in May, which resulted in 36 Covid-19 clusters.
“I think everyone would have started their holiday today (in conjunction with Aidiladha)… during Aidilfitri, hundreds of thousands undertook interstate travel citing various reasons, and they used the interstate travel letter meant for work,” he told the press in Bandar Seri Jempol here today.
“There are probably also those who use their ‘expertise’ to evade police by using plantation roads and so on, but you can’t deceive Covid-19.”
He reminded the public against crossing district and state lines for the upcoming festival.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani in a statement last night said officers will not accept the Miti letter as a valid movement permit to cross state lines from July 18 to 21.
The decision was taken following increased traffic on highways in recent days.
Ismail Sabri, who is also defence minister, said the ministry has yet to receive any application from the Health Ministry for more field hospitals to be set up.
However, he said, his ministry is ready to build another four of such facilities to help contain the coronavirus, after the recruitment of 30 doctors and 100 healthcare workers on a contract basis recently.
So far, there are six field hospitals established in Pokok Sena, Kedah; Tawau, Sabah; Kapit, Sarawak; Kepala Batas, Penang; Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor; and, Labuan. – Bernama, July 18, 2021
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