BATU lawmaker P. Prabakaran has confirmed that he was detained by police for violating the movement-control order (MCO).

He said he was arrested when he went to check on his constituents living at the Sri Murni apartment in Selayang that has been placed under the enhanced MCO (EMCO).

“I went there to check on the welfare of residents after receiving complaints, but I was caught, and police said the case is for violating the MCO.

“I did not violate the MCO. I feel this is not fair,” he said on Facebook Live immediately after his release on police bail last night.

Prabakaran was detained for four hours after he was taken to the Sentul district police headquarters about 5pm.

He said Sri Murni residents had called him for help following the sudden announcement of the EMCO yesterday.

“At 2pm, the residents complained that they had no milk for their children and no food. The Welfare Department had not arrived.

“I was worried about them, so I went there to check on the situation and offer help.”

He said he followed all the procedures upon his arrival.

“When I went to the command centre, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Edmund Santhara Kumar was holding a press conference.

“I waited for him to finish, and then I approached him and told him about the residents’ plight,” he said, adding that Santhara was not interested in what he had to say and did not give him the chance to explain.

“I know that I’m in the opposition, but now is not the time for politics. I’m disappointed.

“Then, I was chased away. So I went out to do Facebook Live, and then police approached me, saying the deputy minister wanted to meet.

“I went back only to be detained by police. If I go there again, I will be caught. I would like to discuss this issue with the Federal Territories minister (Annuar Musa).”

He added that he is baffled by his detention as Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said MPs can visit their constituents during the MCO.

“Elected representatives are allowed to meet (the people) they represent.

“They are among those allowed to continue their duties in their constituencies and state assemblies during the MCO.”

Ismail Sabri yesterday said northern Kuala Lumpur, including the area around the Selayang wholesale market in the Batu constituency, is under the EMCO till May 3.

He said eight parcels of land in the area will be in total lockdown to enable Covid-19 tracing and testing.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 28 coronavirus cases and one fatality have been registered in the area, and a total of 2,064 samples taken from residents.

Annuar, meanwhile, said some 15,000 people living around the wholesale market will be screened for the disease following the detection of cases there. – April 21, 2020.