PUTRAJAYA, April 17 — Senior Minister (security cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it is not an offence if someone doesn’t wear a face mask in public places during the movement control order (MCO) period.
He said the Health Ministry had already issued guidelines and always reminded the public that only those who were Covid-19 symptomatic should wear face masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Those who are asymptomatic need not wear. We can’t enforce the law against anyone who is not wearing a face mask and detain or arrest them and such. There was once a supermarket manager, or security guard, who prevented a shopper from purchasing goods and such because that individual did not wear a face mask.
“This goes beyond the law and Act. To us, it’s not an offence if you do not wear a face mask,” he said at the daily press conference here today.
He was commenting on a report about an individual who was arrested by police for not wearing a face mask at a supermarket in Selangor two days ago.
In this regard, Ismail Sabri reiterated that arrests made during the MCO were in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and Penal Code.
“Yesterday, some wrote that police had no authority to take action against these offenders and that police also had no authority to issue warrants and such.
“I want to make it clear that police can take action based on Act 342, and that Section 3.1 of the same Act states that the Health Minister may appoint any suitable person to be an authorised officer with the power to take action against those who flout the MCO.
“In addition, Section 3.2 also states that an officer authorised to act within the jurisdiction and duties under the Act is deemed to be a civil servant within the meaning of the Penal Code,” he explained.
He said the appointed officer, including police, military and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), was to enforce the law and carry out duties relating to the Act.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said police had arrested 1,057 individuals for violating the MCO yesterday.
“Of the total, 906 individuals have been remanded and 151 are on police bail. A total of 622 people have been charged in court for violating the MCO,” he said, adding that as of yesterday the cumulative number of arrests for MCO violation was 12,074.
Ismail Sabri said the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and police had mounted 813 roadblocks nationwide and inspected 557,699 vehicles as well as conducted 57,344 spot checks nationwide, with 5,220 premises inspected.
Meanwhile, he said the Housing and Local Government Ministry had carried out 2,284 sanitation operations in 102 zones, including in 27 red zones, since March 30.
Among the places that had been sanitised were 1,446 government buildings, 860 public places, 906 business centres and 168 supermarkets, he said.
“As for yesterday, 196 sanitation operations were conducted in 70 zones in 14 states, including 41 areas in Johor and 21 in Kelantan,” he added.
— Bernama
