CHILDREN may be barred from shopping centres if parents refuse to prioritise their safety, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The defence minister said currently, there are no restrictions on families with kids going to malls.

“There are parents who have taken their children to shopping malls, but they must ensure their children’s safety.

“At the moment, there are no restrictions. But it is their responsibility to make sure that their children are safe.

“We may impose restrictions if parents refuse to prioritise their children’s safety. We will look into this,” he told a daily press conference on Covid-19 security matters in Putrajaya today.

On interstate travel, he said it is allowed only for emergencies.

People must have a valid reason to undertake such journeys, as well as get police’s approval, he said.

“The interstate travel period has ended. Movement across state borders is no longer allowed.

“However, if you have an emergency, such as a funeral, you can get approval from police. Only with this approval can you travel between states.”

Those stuck in their hometowns since the movement-control order took effect on March 18 were allowed to head back to where they live and work from May 7 to yesterday, provided that they registered with the Gerak Malaysia app.

The app saw 1.2 million downloads, with 462,505 applications recorded. – May 11, 2020.