IPOH: The number of vehicles plying the East-West Highway from Gerik to the east coast has increased between one and two per cent today.
Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said most of the motorists who stopped at the roadblock mounted at KM9 of the highway have the necessary travel permits.
"There is an increase of between one and two per cent along the East-West Highway today. All of them have travel permits.
"Most of them are long-distance couples from Penang, Perak and Perlis but a majority of them are from Penang who are heading to Kelantan.
"Those who passed by the roadblock are also from economic sectors who have received green light from MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and relevant government agencies," he said when contacted today.
Mior Faridalathrash said beside long-distance couples and business purposes, there were also road users who received permission for hospital and vaccine appointments.
Meanwhile, Mior Faridalathrash said checks at the other roadblocks in the state showed that the number of vehicles entering Perak did not show any significant increase.
"The officers manning the roadblocks will check the road users thoroughly and will issue compounds or ask them to turn back should they not have travel permits from the police.
"Police will continue to monitor compliance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that is being enforced and will issue compounds against those who fail to comply," he added.