SEVERAL areas in Penang, Sabah and Pahang will be subject to the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) from June 4 to June 17, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

In a statement, Ismail Sabri stated that at least 21 districts in the three states will be in strict lockdown after health officials recorded a significant increase in new Covid-19 cases.

In Bayan Lepas areas in Penang, 13 localities are now subject to EMCO: Sri Bayu, Bayu Tiara, Bayu Nyaman, Halaman Murni, Bayan Permai, Bayan Tiara, Taman Ara Indah, Kampung Bukit,Kampung Perlis, Kampung Masjid, Jalan Mahkamah, Jalan Kampung Pak Lah and Lebuh Kampung Bukit.

“There have been 83 new cases here in the past two weeks, with a total 250 cases. Tests on close contacts showed that the positivity rate is 19.6% while community screening is 10.7%,” he added.

In Sandakan Lorong Taman Utama 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Taman Utama are quarantined, where health officials found nine new cases in a short period of time after testing 13 people.

“The positivity rate is 69.2%,” Ismail Sabri said.

Another village, this time in Lahad Datu, Kampung Sepagaya Hulu, recorded 19 positive cases from 35 tests.

“Kampung Sepagata Hulu will be under the restriction order after recording 54.3% of positivity rate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rumah Murah Kepayan and Kampung Tanjung Aru Baru in Kota Kinabalu recorded 24 new cases.

Ismail Sabri said the two localities have high populations, adding that the risks are high.

In Pahang, Ismail Sabri said four housing areas in Bentong are now quarantined after authorities found more than 20 new infections.

“Taman Bentong Makmur, Taman Harmoni, Taman Kolej and Taman Desa Damai are subject to EMCO. Health officials found 24 new cases from all four housing areas.

“Cases were sporadic in the past two weeks and the positivity rate is at 7%,” he said.

Ismail Sabri also announced the extension of EMCO at Pantai Manis Religious School in Papar, Sabah.

The order was supposed to end on June 3 but there are still new cases.

“From 940 tests, 171 positive cases were found,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Security Council agreed to lift the EMCO for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai in Johor and Gugusan Mendi in Bera, Pahang. – June 2, 2021.