ARRESTING people for breaching the movement control order (MCO) goes against the objectives to curb the spread of Covid-19, said a human rights group today.

The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) said among the objectives of the MCO are to ensure people stay at home, exercise social distancing in public areas and avoid large crowds.

“However, arresting, detaining and charging of these violators in court goes against the very objectives of the MCO.

“At a time when our doctors, nurses and hospital resources are already put to the test, the actions and the procedures of the police are counter-productive,” said the group’s chairman Kuthubul Zaman and secretary-general Ivy Josiah in a statement.

They said the police are currently charging those violating the MCO in court under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulation 2020 and the Penal Code.

They said the police must exercise restraint.

“Those violating the MCO should not be treated as criminals. They are merely defaulters.

“Proham urges the police to just issue compound notices and the defaulters be released immediately pending payment, those that fail to pay can be summoned to court once the MCO is removed.

“In this way, the police will be assisting to ensure that the Covid-19 viral chain be broken and not to perpetuate the spread.”

Proham also praised the police and the army for their work and assistance in the current pandemic to ensure people comply with the MCO.

Bukit Aman’s Internal Security and Public Order Department director Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani had said the police will continue its efforts to tighten the movement control order to get full compliance throughout the country.

He said this was because there are still people who refused to comply with the order.

The Kuala Lumpur police meanwhile said they had opened 105 investigation papers relating to the flouting of the MCO during its first phase from March 18 until April 1.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim said 194 people, comprising 127 locals and 67 foreigners, aged 16 to 86 years, were arrested for violating the MCO.

“A total of 64 people have been charged in court.” – April 2, 2020.