Beginning tomorrow, those who violate the Movement Control Order (MCO) which enters its third phase will be arrested and charged in court.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the RM1,000 compound was not a sufficient deterrent to ensure people do not flout the MCO.
He said that the government had decided that compounds will no longer be the focus of police action.
He added that police will issue the RM1,000 fixed compound only in certain cases.
“Police will use their discretion. In certain cases, they will still issue the compound, but our main priority has changed.
“Therefore, starting tomorrow, those arrested for breaching the MCO will be remanded and charged in court.
“Let the court decide on the punishment. Under the law, the court can punish offenders with not more than two years’ jail. For subsequent offences, the jail term is not more than five years.
“After this, let the court decide on heavier punishments.
“If you are brought to face charges, you may be remanded or stay in the lock-up for one or two more days.”
Ismail said many who take compounds lightly, thinking they could settle them later or until a warrant of arrest is issued.
“We can see that some people are taking this lightly, thinking it’s just like another compound, like a traffic fine, and are not afraid of breaking the law.
“Maybe to them, RM1,000 is not a high sum. However, starting from tomorrow as the third phase of MCO takes effect, this will no longer be compromised and offenders will be arrested and brought to court,” he said.
He revealed that there were more cars on the roads yesterday, which resulted in traffic congestion in some parts of Kuala Lumpur.
“I was informed by the police that yesterday, many people had gone out, more than usual, as they wanted to withdraw Bantuan Prihatin Nasional aid from the bank.”
He said this was despite the public being told to check their bank accounts online.
Ismail said that as of yesterday, the cumulative number of those arrested for defying MCO stood at 9,090 and the total compounds issued were at 4,036.
“We see the numbers increasing every day. Yesterday, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) arrested 1,374 MCO violators, 931 of whom have been issued with RM1,000 compound while 418 remanded and 25 were released on police bail,” he said in the MCO daily new conference today.