TEN construction sites have been ordered to be closed for not following the Covid-19 standard operating procedures set up by the National Security Council (NSC), said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

He said the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) issued the closure orders, having inspected 6,559 sites since March 18.

The CIDB has also issued warnings to 288 sites for not complying with the SOP, he added at his daily media briefing in Putrajaya.

“The CIDB has closed 10 construction sites and issued warnings to another 288 for not complying with the SOP.

“Out of 6,559 sites, only 1,211 were following the SOP and 5,050 sites have yet to start operating,” Ismail Sabri said, adding that CIDB inspected 196 sites yesterday, with two being ordered to cease operations.

“A total of 194 officers from CIDB conducted the checks on 196 sites yesterday. Ninety-three premises were following the SOP, 16 were not and were warned.

“Two were closed, while 85 sites were not open,” he stated.

Previously, there have been reports of positive Covid-19 cases among construction workers at construction sites.

A cluster was detected at a construction site on Jalan Ampang, in Kuala Lumpur, while another cluster was also found at a Setia Alam site in Shah Alam earlier in April.

Last month, Ismail Sabri said that CIDB will continue inspecting construction sites to ensure compliance with guidelines throughout the conditional movement control order. – June 4, 2020.