Some 500,000 Malaysians planning to return from their hometowns to the cities after the government eases the MCO.
Malaysians left stranded from their places of residences following the nationwide enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March 18 will be allowed to return home from May 7 to 10.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said police have received more than 500,000 applications via Gerak Malaysia app from those stranded who wanted to return to the city from their hometowns or vice versa.
“We will allow Malaysians trapped in their hometowns to return to the city. Therefore, the police will prepare a travel schedule for their journey,” he said during his daily Covid-19 press briefing in Putrajaya today.
Ismail said the police would also issue a Press statement on the matter to further clarify on the travel schedule.
“For now, I can say they can start travelling on May 7, ending on May 10,” he said.
Ismail said civil servants need not rush home to start work on Monday, as they will be allowed to start travelling after the police announce the details.
“The chief secretary to the government (Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali) has agreed that they would not have to start working on Monday.
“They can return to work based on the travel schedule set by the police. For example, if they are scheduled to return to the city from their hometowns on Friday, they can start working next Monday.”
As for workers in the private sector, Ismail urged employers to allow their employees to return to work according to the travel schedule.
“Please do not take action against them (the employees) for failing to return to work this Monday, as the movement will only start on Thursday.
“The workers’ have no choice but to follow the travel schedule and rules outlined by the police.”
Ismail said he has also asked the Human Resources Ministry to look into the matter from the legal aspect, to see if actions could be taken against employers for taking action on employees who failed to return to work this Monday.