THE Kepayan Prison in Sabah, as well as its staff housing quarters, will be placed under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) from Wednesday, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail Sabri said the order will affect 3,511 individuals, comprising 2,914 inmates and 597 prison staff.

“We have agreed to impose EMCO at the Kepayan Prison, including its staff quarters, from October 21 to November 3.

“The staff will not be allowed to leave their homes and the Sabah government will provide food and other necessities,” Ismail Sabri said during a press conference today.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said authorities can conduct videoconferencing for remand cases to avoid overcrowding at the court complex.

“For remand cases, the chief justice has recently said that videoconferencing can take place. This is to prevent people from coming to court and further spread the virus,” he added.

Yesterday, Ismail Sabri announced a 14-day extension to the targeted EMCO for the Alor Setar Prison in Kedah.

The decision was made after discussing the situation with the state government and the National Security Council.

The targeted EMCO has been extended until November 1.

The Alor Setar prison cluster was detected on September 30 following the death of a 46-year-old man who had worked at the prison.

A Covid-19 test after his death found the man to have contracted the virus. – October 19, 2020.