ALOR SETAR: Police roadblocks are still in place at border areas of Kedah, Penang and Perak to ensure that residents of red zones are prevented from entering the state.
Kedah police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said those intending to enter the state must have the inter-district travel permission letter, or prove they have important matters to attend to, as only they are permitted to enter.
However, he said the border route between Kedah and Perlis was opened last night after the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) for most of Kedah was lifted on Saturday.
"It is also undeniable that there may be rat lanes in village area at the Kedah, Penang and Perak borders. However, we have the Covid-19 special monitoring team to go around the areas for checks.
"We close the main roads only. There may be rat lanes, as villagers are familiar with these routes. But the police will stop them if they are found crossing the areas through the (rat) lanes," he told a press conference here after witnessing a duty handover ceremony for new Kedah police deputy chief, Datuk Mohd Roze Shaari today.
Mohd Roze, who was the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Intelligence/Operations deputy director, is replacing Datuk Muhammad Azlee Abdullah, who previously held the Kedah deputy police chief post.
Azlee is retiring on Nov 8.
When elaborating on the roadblocks mounted to prevent Covid-19's spread, Hasanuddin advised Kedah residents to move about less, and stay at home if they have no important external matters to attend to.
Although Kedah (except for Kulim) has been listed as a green zone, he said Covid-19 infection can happen at any time.