THE Simpang Renggam Prison and its staff quarters will come under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO) from tomorrow until February 14, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“As of January 29, Ministry of Health (MOH) has conducted 198 screening tests and out of that number, 108 positive cases of Covid-19 have been recorded involving 100 detainees, six staff and two close contacts,” he said in a statement today.

Johor, like other states except for Sarawak, is under a state-wide MCO.

The EMCO at the prison however, will allow the Health Ministry to implement targeted screening of all detainees, staff and close contacts, Ismail Sabri said.

Meanwhile, he said 578 individuals were arrested for flouting the MCO yesterday and from this number, 525 were issued with compounds and 53 remanded.

The offences involved lack of physical distancing (108), cross-district/state travel without permission (90), not wearing a mask (78), failing to provide tools for recording customer particulars (56), premises operating beyond permitted hours or without permission (51), among others.

Through Ops Benteng involving police, armed forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Malaysian Border Security Agency, Ismail Sabri said 40 illegal immigrants were detained, and one boat and one land vehicle seized.

He also said 8,028 foreign workers were screened yesterday, with 47 of them confirmed Covid-19 positive. – January 31, 2021.