THE Muar moral rehabilitation centre in Johor will be placed under a two-week enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) starting tomorrow after a surge in Covid-19 cases there, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The senior minister said the centre, which has been used as a prisoner transit point since last month, will be placed under a full lockdown until January 6, 2021.

“As of now, the Health Ministry has conducted 726 screenings, where 20 Covid-19 cases have been recorded among the inmates.  

“Based on the assessment done by the ministry, the risk and rate of infection among the inmates are high.  

“Hence, as per the ministry’s advice, we have decided to implement EMCO at this centre starting December 24 until January 6, 2021,” Ismail Sabri said in a statement today.  

He said the EMCO would enable the ministry to screen everyone at the centre, which comprises 773 detainees and 127 workers. 

He said the standard operating procedure for this place is similar to past EMCO for prisons, where no one is allowed to leave or enter the centre and visitations by family members are not allowed.  

Besides this, Ismail Sabri said the EMCO at the Sierra East Condo at Persiaran Paya Terubong, Relau, Penang will end today.

He said no Covid-19 cases were recorded at this place and the majority of residents in the condominium have no ties to the clusters that are being reported. – December 23, 2020.