The Air Itam market will be closed to traffic starting at 6am Monday (March 30), says George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong.
He said police would put up two barricades – one outside the Air Itam police station and another at the Jalan Kampung Pisang-Jalan Paya Terubong junction – to prevent private vehicles from entering the vicinity.
“Market-goers can still walk to the market.
“In this way, the authorities can manage the flow of people in the area.
“Market traders can still move into the market in their vehicles or motorcycles,” he said.
ACP Soffian said the closure to traffic was necessary after pictures of a sizeable crowd going about their shopping in the market have gone viral during the movement control order (MCO) period.
He said this is also to ensure that the public can follow the social distancing rule and at the same time, the authorities can control the crowd at the market.
He said closing down the market was not an option as it is the primary food source for some 250,000 people in Air Itam, Paya Terubong and Bandar Baru Air Itam.
Meanwhile, the 69 people arrested in Central Seberang Prai district for violating movement control order (MCO) have arrived at the magistrate’s court in Bukit Mertajam to be remanded.
The detainees clad in lock-up garb arrived in three police trucks while the three women arrested arrived in a van at about 9.50am on Sunday (March 29).
The trucks lined up at the entrance to the courthouse before all of them were led into the courtroom.