GEORGE TOWN: With the country moving into the third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO), police here have stepped up enforcement to ensure people continue to fully comply with the stay-at-home order.
State police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan said stricter measures are being taken both on land and at sea following the recent seizure of a boat carrying 202 Rohingya refugees near a beach resort at Jalan Pantai Kok in Teluk Nibung, Langkawi.
He said, at present, about 40 police road blocks have been set up statewide.
"We started with 21 police road blocks before increasing this to 34 in the second phase. We have 40 police road blocks now and we will increase this further under the third phase.
"Under the third phase, we will see more relaxation with companies being allowed to operate in increasing numbers. So, we expect more people to be out. As long as they have passes or company letters to show, we have no issues.
"But we will tighten checks, especially between 9am and 4pm, (to apprehend those) who do not have reasons to be on the road. At the beginning of the MCO, about 50 per cent of vehicles were asked to turn back, as they had no valid reason to be on the road. Now, the number is less than a handful," he told newsmen today, adding that he was at a police road block recently, and between 4pm and 11pm, only two vehicles were asked to turn back after the drivers could not provide valid reasons for going out.
"This is a significant improvement," he added.
Earlier today, the southwest police sealed off the Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah flyover from George Town heading to Bayan Lepas following the extension of the MCO.
Southwest district police chief Superintendent A.A. Anbalagan said all vehicles from George Town heading towards Bayan Lepas will be diverted to the roads beneath the flyover. The road closure starts from the Sungai Nibong Pesta site.
He said the flyover, from Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah in Bayan Lepas to George Town, would still be open to traffic as usual.
"This is to limit the movement of people in the area, as police have mounted roadblocks along the route,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sahabudin said that in terms of enforcement at sea, marine police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) are patrolling the borders 24 hours a day to ensure there are no encroachments.
"They have also put in place several assets. All are on the alert," he said, advising anyone not to encroach into the state's waters or risk stern action.