The home ministry has identified 13 prison academies for the purpose, saying this can also allay fears of overcrowding.
“At the academy, the same rules will be used as in a normal prison. They will follow the same SOP,” Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said at a press conference here today.
He added that further discussions would be held with the police, prisons department and Attorney-General’s Chambers.
So far, he said, 799 roadblocks have been set up nationwide with 545,182 vehicles and 6,907 premises checked.
A total of 9,702 individuals have been arrested for violating the MCO, 590 of whom have been remanded and 15 who are out on bail. Meanwhile, 337 have been charged in court.
“As I have said, the police are no longer compromising with those who do not follow the MCO,” he said.
“Stern action is being taken.”
When asked what percentage of the population was following the MCO, he said about 97%.
“Some areas have seen an increase in traffic,” he added.
When asked about top cop Abdul Hamid Bador’s comment that the MCO could be extended until June if people still defied the order, he said that might be Hamid’s opinion.
“However, the decision will be based on the advice of the health ministry,” he said.
When asked if domestic flights were now allowed, he said flights to Sabah and Sarawak had been given the green light by the transport ministry.
Those who were quarantined earlier would be allowed to leave their quarantine centres, he added.
Those from Sabah and Sarawak who have completed their 14-day quarantine will be placed at temporary centres at KLIA until flights become available.
On that matter, he said, 14,536 Malaysians are still undergoing mandatory isolation at 176 centres across the country.
“157 Malaysians who returned home yesterday are also under quarantine,” he said.
A total of 1,871 areas including government buildings, public spaces, business centres and supermarkets have been sanitised since March 30.
Malaysia has so far recorded 82 deaths and 4,987 cases of Covid-19.
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