KUCHING: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) are already deployed to assist the Royal Malaysia Police Force (PDRM) to enforce the movement control order (MCO).
New Sarawak Tribune yesterday monitored their operations at Jalan Abell here where four soldiers from the 10th Rangers Unit stationed at Muara Tuang Camp were assisting nine police officers.
It was understood that with the army’s assistance, the roadblock will run for 24 hours with the first shift from 4pm until 12am.
In Bintulu, the district police chief Supt Zulkipli Suhaili welcomed the involvement of 48 members of the 7th Battalion of the Border Regiment in helping his men.
He felt with their help the local population is expected to have a better appreciation of the MCO.
In Miri, the presence of the soldiers was immediately felt early yesterday. They were seen on the streets and at several roadblocks together with the police.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the 14-day MCO asking the public to stay indoors until the end of the month, following the surged of Covid-19 cases in the country.
On Friday, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri announced that the army would be deployed yesterday to help the police to enforce the two-week-long partial lockdown around the country to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“We are confident that with the army’s help, stricter enforcement can be carried out,” the minister said.
On the fifth day of the home-quarantine period, Kuching was like a ghost town with almost everyone staying indoors to break the Covid-19 virus chain.
