THE National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to let the Home Ministry coordinate all enforcement actions, including raids conducted by agencies on factories violating the movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedure (SOP).

Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that lately, the government has received many complaints about factories allegedly abusing the government’s approval letter by running non-essential operations during the full lockdown enforced since June 1.

Some factories were found flouting the SOP by allowing more than 60% of their employees to work, with some even directing those wearing quarantine wristbands to turn up for work, he said.

“As such, the government will take stern action by conducting checks and raids on factories that violate the SOP. The errant factories will be compounded and ordered to close immediately,” he said in a statement on the MCO and enhanced MCO today.

On June 17, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin was reported as saying that beginning June 18, employers in the manufacturing sector found to have violated the SOP would be issued compound notices without any warning.

He said 49 factories nationwide had been compounded for breaching the SOP since June 1.

Ismail Sabri also said several localities in Sarawak, Sabah, Malacca and Perak will be placed under the EMCO from June 23 to July 6 following an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The affected areas in Sarawak are Rumah Panjang Gabriel Bujang anak Ikau, Sungai Lepah, Tanjung Manis and Balingian Power Generation workers quarters, Jalan Sibu-Mukah in Mukah division while in Sabah, the affected localities are Blok 11 Kampung Titingan and Batu 7, Jalan Tinagat in Tawau; Kampung Ejuk, Kota Belud and Kampung Warisan in Kota Kinabalu.

In Malacca, the areas placed under EMCO are Sungai Udang Prison (except prison quarters) and Melaka Tengah while in Perak, the affected places are Kilang Sawit Cahaya Muda (including workers’ quarters) and Batang Padang.

“The SOP for all EMCO areas is the same as that announced previously. Further information is available on the NSC website at www.mkn.gov.my,” Ismail Sabri said.

He also said the EMCO enforced earlier in several localities in Sabah and Perak will end at 11.59pm tomorrow.

The areas in Sabah where the EMCO will be lifted are Taman Apas Permai, Bandar Sri Indah and Taman Megah Jaya in Tawau, Kampung Narandang, Kudat and Ladang FGV Kalabakan Selatan in Kalabakan while those in Perak are Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Muallim and Felda Trolak Utara in Sungkai.

Ismail Sabri said the EMCO enforced in several localities in Sabah and Pahang will end at 11.59pm today.

The affected areas in Sabah are Kampung Bolong Baru and Kampung Simpangan in Tuaran while the places in Pahang involved Felda Tembangau 1 and 3 in Bera.

On MCO SOP violations, Ismail Sabri said 825 people were arrested yesterday for various offences, with 810 compounded and 15 remanded.

The offences included not practising physical distancing, not wearing masks, failing to record personal particulars when entering premises, crossing state or district borders without permission and dining at eateries. – Bernama, June 21, 2021.