restricted travel Archives

MCO: 10-km limit no longer applicable but interstate travel is still not permitted

The 10 km-limit to travel during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period is no longer in force. This was announced by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the senior minister in charge of the security cluster who speaks on behalf of the National Security Council, today.

It makes sense not to apply the limit now that businesses are being allowed to resume operations as workplaces for some may be further than 10 kms from their homes. The restriction on interstate travel remains and will continue till at least after Hari Raya since it has already been made clear that balik kampung journeys will not be permitted this year.

The only exception has been in the Klang Valley where the state of Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur have large populations and interlinked roads. Travel across the borders of these two territories has been permitted throughout the MCO period for those with valid reasons.

However, between May 7 and 10, permission is granted for interstate travel for those who have been stuck in other places since the MCO started. The police received over half a million applications for this exercise which will be conducted according to states of origin during each of the four days. Applications had to be submitted using the Gerak Malaysia mobile app and the police have said that there will be no approval message or notice sent to applicants. So if you have made the application properly online, you can proceed on the scheduled day. Should you be stopped at the roadblock, the police will be able to check on your travel details from the Gerak Malaysia app.

Initially, when the MCO started on April 18, the distance that could be travelled was not specified and it was assumed that people would be responsible enough to go to the closest places to their home to get essential items. However, the police began to find that there were also people who took advantage of the allowance to leave home for such purposes, travelling further than necessary.

There were reports from Penang of people from the island insisting on crossing to the mainland to buy their favourite food. The police did not allow that and ordered them to turn around and became stricter in enforcement, inconveniencing the majority who followed the regulation and had valid reasons to travel further.

This led to the imposition of the 10-km limit on April 1 as the first extension of the MCO started. For the majority, the range was reasonable but there were some cases where people requiring specific medical treatment regularly found that they were not allowed to go to their usual clinic or hospital because it was more than 10 kms away. Eventually, an announcement was made that if there were valid reasons, supported by documents, then such an issue should not occur and they could be allowed to do so.

The other restriction has been the number of people in a vehicle. For much of the MCO period, only one person has been allowed in the vehicle, the driver of course. The idea behind this restriction was mainly related to distancing but many wondered what the difference was when you travelled in a taxi with a passenger. The risks of virus transmission would also be there and in fact be greater since a taxi would carry different people during the day. Nevertheless, the restriction remained and some people who refused to follow it found themselves arrested and fined RM1,000.

It is only recently, with the easing of the MCO conditions, that more than one person has been allowed in the vehicle. At first, two persons were allowed but very quickly, this was increased to 4 persons. The condition, however, is that they must be from the same household. The logic behind this is that since they (assumed to be family members) are already in close contact within the home, it should not make much difference anyway being together in the car. This was a much welcome move for parents with children or older folks who needed to go out.

While the restrictions are gradually being removed, it must be noted that the MCO is still on and there are still elements being enforced. Social distancing is one of the important measures so if you are at a petrol station, be sure to stay at least a metre apart from another person. Wearing a facemask, while not mandatory, is also a good idea if you are out of the home. And, of course, frequent washing of hands is important to reduce the risk of infection as well.

Movement Control Order (MCO) – only up to 10 kms to get essential items

There was a tiny bit of good news today during the daily briefing by the Health Ministry. According to the Director-General, there are signs of reduced cases which suggests that the curve is flattening. It’s too early to celebrate but if this sign can become a sustained trend, then we will be winning the war against the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Flattening the curve — *If we can flatten the curve, the number of cases will become lower and the hospitals will be able to help more infected people and save more lives.*

The reduced cases can be attributed to the Movement Control Order being initiated 2 weeks ago. Though it has restricted movements of the general population nationwide and requires people to stay in their homes, it has been necessary to reduce, if not prevent, the spread of the virus. However, there is some flexibility which allows people to travel out of their homes to get essential items and they must immediately return after that.

Because there are people (about 3% of road-users) who don’t appreciate such flexibility and take advantage of it, the police have had to be more strict in enforcing the MCO. Roadblocks have been set up in many areas, some roads are closed off, and only one person can be in the vehicle – and must have valid reasons for being away from the home. Those who do not obey orders to return home if their reason is unacceptable can be arrested.

Now, with the second phase of the MCO starting which will last until April 14, there is an additional restriction. You can only travel up to 10 kms from your residence to purchase the essential items. This new condition has been introduced since it was found that there were people who were using the journey as a chance to drive around, perhaps to enjoy the empty roads.

In Penang, for example, there were people who insisted on crossing to the mainland to buy their things. The police did not allow that and ordered them to turn around and buy from stores on the island. This is what happens when a few people are stubborn and disobedient and the rest of us also suffer.

Of course, the authorities are not considerate and if there is a valid reason to travel further, eg to a hospital or to visit sick parents at a different home, then permission can be given for travel to be undertaken.

Meanwhile, supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores as well as petrol stations will be limited to operating hours between 8 am and 8 pm. The same hours apply to places selling food which have not been permitted to allow customers to eat on their premises; they can only offer takeaways or cater to orders sent by food delivery services. So if you are ordering food, be sure to do so by 7 pm.

Therefore, other than an emergency, you should not be on the road after 8 pm. If you miss going out to the mamak stall with your friends at night, it’s too bad that we can’t do it now. But what you can do is help to keep the number of infected people from going up and that means…

Updated list of toll plazas with restrictions

The Movement Control Order (March 18 – 31, 2020) does not stop you from going out – but only to buy essential food and supplies or medication. You should go to the nearest place to get the items and not drive from Penang island to the mainland to buy vegetables (as was reported by the police to The Star). And certainly, you cannot go out to eat at restaurants which, if allowed to operate, can only provide takeaway or food delivery services.

Yet there are still people who are ignoring the orders to stay at home and seem to go longer distances than necessary. It’s understandable that being confined to the home is tough but this is a very serious situation and you need to do your part.

Think of how fortunate you are to be able to be at home when there are thousands of frontliners – the nurses, doctors, hospital cleaners and other healthcare personnel – who are risking their lives daily, fighting exhaustion and having to be away from their families and friends.

Because there are people who are stubborn and insist on doing what amounts to breaking the law, the police now have to increase restrictions on vehicle movements. Besides a restriction on interstate travel (as well as driving across the borders with Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia), passage through many toll plazas will no longer be permitted unless the vehicle driver can give a valid reason or show a document authorising movement. If not, the police will order the vehicle to be turned around and the occupants should return home.

The following are the PLUS toll plazas which have such restrictions at their entry lanes:

1) Jalan Duta

2) Sungei Besi

3) Skudai

4) Kuala Kangsar (Only vehicles headed north will be allowed to enter the highway. Vehicles headed south will be subject to restrictions).

5) Ayer Keroh

6) Tol Pedas Linggi

If you do not have a valid reason and are ordered to turn around, do not argue with the police. They are just doing their duty to protect us. Let’s not make things worse and force the government to extend the MCO.

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