KUALA LUMPUR: The majority of travellers who had caused the traffic jam near the Gombak toll plaza late Sunday night had travel permits.
Gombak police chief Assistant Commissioner Arifai Tarawe said the police only issued 22 compounds against motorists found violating the standard operating procedures (SOP) enforced throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) for crossing the state borders into Kuala Lumpur.
The rest, he said, had proper travel documentations with the majority involving those returning to universities and other learning institutions.
"I went to the ground and checked the roadblocks (mounted near the Gombak toll plaza) beginning 5pm Sunday until 1am today (Monday) to ensure stringent checks conducted on vehicles passing the route.
"Checks showed most of the people inspected (at the roadblocks) had travel permits to travel interstate with the majority involving matters returning to universities and other learning centres.
"Based on the stringent checks conducted, the police issued 22 compounds against people who did not have the travel permit to travel interstate.
"And each of them were issued RM5,000 in compounds," he said.
Commenting on picture that went viral showing traffic congestion that was also shared on the social media accounts of the Malaysian Highway Authority, Arifai said the situation was not that serious compared to the festive period during previous years before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country which compelled the government to enforce the MCO to prevent the spread of the virus.
"The traffic congestion at the area is only three kilometres long and that it is not as bad compared to the festive period during the previous years.
"Usually, during this time of the year (before the implementation of the MCO in previous years), the traffic crawl would be about 20km until 30km despite no roadblocks were mounted near the Gombak toll plaza," he said.