BUTTERWORTH: 18 individuals in the Seberang Prai Utara district were each slapped with a compound on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri yesterday for failing to comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) under the Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0.
The compounds were issued for attempting to cross state lines, gathering without observing physical distancing and failing to check-in using the MySejahtera QR code.
Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor said two men, aged 61 and 66, were stopped at a police roadblock at Jalan Sungai Nyior in Butterworth.
"During checks, both of them were found to have attempted to cross state lines without valid approval letters.
"They had travelled from Sungai Petani, Kedah without proper documents," he said.
Meanwhile, Noorzainy said the SOP compliance team from the district police headquarters also issued compounds against five men, aged between 23 and 35, who were found gathering at Tembok Bagan Ajam at about 12.30am.
"Checks by the team, led by the Butterworth police station chief, found that all five were sitting without observing physical distancing.
"They were issued with compounds for failing to comply with the SOP," he added.
Subsequently, Noorzainy said, they conducted checks at Petak Pak Din in Kepala Batas. There, they found the 40-year-old owner of a premises had failed to control the crowd.
"All 10 male customers inside the premises, aged between 20 and 40, also failed to check-in using the MySejahtera QR code and there was no physical distancing between them.
"The customers were each slapped with RM4,000 compounds while the owner, RM20,000, for failing to comply with the SOP," he said.
Noorzainy reminded the people to strictly adhere to the SOP at all times, especially when the whole nation was under lockdown until June 7.
"Everyone have a role to play to flatten the curve of infection of Covid-19. Remain indoors if you do not have pressing needs to be outside.
"We will not compromise with anyone in ensuring the SOP are strictly followed," he stressed.
A total 12 static police roadblocks are mounted in the district with 30 task force teams deployed for monitoring.
