GEORGE TOWN: Jalan Pangkor and Jalan Perak here have been identified as hotspots due to high volume of traffic during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong said there had been an increase in the number of vehicles at these hotspots at the tail-end of Phase 2 of the MCO.
As such, he said, police would conduct more roadblocks and snap checks to ensure that only those with valid and strong reasons were allowed on the road.
“We will no longer accept trivial reasons such as getting food, getting groceries or going to the bank from motorists passing through the roadblocks.
"From now on, we will be very strict in our checks.
"We will ask for every single detail such as their address and such until we are satisfied.
“There is no reason for someone from Farlim to come all the way to Jelutong just to get food. Aren’t there any food in Farlim? Or for that matter, someone from Tanjung Tokong going all the way to Pulau Tikus to get food.
“Under Phase 1 and 2 of the MCO, motorists may have escaped using such trivial reasons. Not anymore. Enough is enough.
"Under Phase 3, if you can't provide valid and strong reasons to be on the road, then be prepared to face action," he said when met at the snap check at Jalan Perak here today.
Soffian said police would now verify every excuse given by motorists stopped at roadblocks to the extent of following them home as additional step to strictly enforce the MCO.
He said for those using excuse of buying food for their elderly parents, police might even escort them to see if they were telling the truth.
Soffian said they would identify more hotspots from time to time according to traffic assessment or assesment by the respective police station chiefs.
“Take for example between 10am and 2pm or between 2pm and 6pm, by right, there should not be heavy traffic on the road because those who needed to report for duties, would have done so already.
However, based on our checks yesterday, many motorists were still giving us trivial reasons.
“As such, we will set up more snap checks to ensure everyone fully abide by the MCO, otherwise, it will not be fair for those who are strictly observing the stay-at-home order.
“We hope everyone will be more aware and responsible in their actions so that we can help stop the spread of Covid-19 pandemic." he added.