KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla has called on the government to take stern action against entities and individuals found violating the restricted movement order.
Haniff said under Section 11(4) and Section 24(a) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), failure to adhere to the restricted movement order, which will come into force tomorrow, is a criminal offense.
“Any person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to fine or to both,” he said, adding that health and life of all Malaysians are more valuable than money.
In the statement, Haniff also said if there is a need to extend the restricted movement order, the government can issue a notice 48 hours before the expiry of the original period (until March 31).
Last night, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government has imposed a 14-day Movement Control Order from tomorrow to March 31 nationwide to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection in Malaysia.
Speaking to the nation in a special address, Muhyiddin said the order will entail a ban on all mass gatherings for religious, sport, social and cultural activities.
Malaysia reported 125 new Covid-19 cases today, raising the tally of infections in the country to 553 – the highest toll in Southeast Asia.