KEPALA BATAS: All mosques in Penang, allowed to hold Friday prayers since last week during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), have fully complied with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set.
State police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abdul Manan said checks showed all the mosques involved in holding Friday prayers had adapted and practised the SOP set such as providing hand sanitisers and recording body temperatures.
"Police has and will continue to monitor the situation at all premises, including houses of worship, to ensure full compliance of the SOP.
"In our checks today, we found that all mosques had abided by the 15 people limit for Friday prayers," he said after checks at mosques in the Seberang Prai Utara district here today.
Congregational prayers were suspended and mosques closed to the public since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Under the CMCO, last Friday was the first day that Friday prayers were allowed to be held statewide.
Meanwhile, Sahabudin said since the start of the MCO, Penang police had checked 1.59 million individuals, 19,830 premises and 1.46 million vehicles, where 6,485 were order to turn back due to the inter-state travel restriction.
"In the current phase of the CMCO, 112 people were arrested, bringing the total to 1,939 arrests made since March 18," he added.
Under the current phase of the CMCO, Penang achieved a 97 per cent compliance level.
He said although there had been an increase in compliance level, there were still those who resorted to cross border travel with various reasons, including 'balik kampung'.
"We will be strict in our enforcement. Only those with valid reasons will be allowed to cross borders.
"We will enhance checks in all borders leading into the state including 'laluan tikus'. We will also heighten checks in all public transportation stations such as train and bus stations," he said.
