A TOTAL of 292 individuals were caught engaging in pub and nightclub activities in breach of the recovery movement control order (RMCO) yesterday, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

These were among 584 individuals arrested overall yesterday for RMCO violations, he added in a statement today.

Another group of 224 people were arrested for disobeying social-distancing rules, followed by disobeying enhanced MCO orders (18), failure to provide a record of personal details (17), not wearing a mask (14), entering prohibited areas (13) and overtime of premises operation (6).

A total of 568 individuals were compounded while 16 individuals were remanded, he added.

He also said the police and local authorities have been urged to take stern action against nightclub and pub owners, including hauling them to court and revoking their operating licences, for breaching RMCO regulations.

Nightclubs and pubs remain banned from operating under the RMCO.

Ismail Sabri also said that 120 people were arrested for entering the country illegally.

Joint operations are being continuously carried out by the police, army, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Malaysian Border Security Agency as well as the Immigration Department and Customs Department to curb cross-border crime, he said.

Yesterday, they the authorities arrested 65 illegal immigrants, three smugglers and three middlemen.

Twenty-seven illegal immigrants were detained at the Rakan Muda Complex, Johor, for trying to leave Malaysia through an ungazetted road.

The enforcement agencies will continue to tighten border controls, especially in rat lanes, Ismail Sabri said. – September 17, 2020.