He said the army would continue to function as it did during the first MCO by assisting the police in carrying out their duties.

At a press conference today, he said the army had only been given powers to detain individuals in the ongoing Op Benteng campaign, which aims to curb the illegal entry of undocumented migrants into Malaysia.

Ismail had previously said army personnel now had the power to detain and take action against those found violating the MCO, thanks to the Emergency Ordinance. This had raised fears among many of a harsher clampdown.

“The army is still functioning as usual,” he clarified today. “Since the MCO was first imposed last year, the army has always been in our community in monitoring and ensuring SOPs are complied with.

“In roadblocks, for example, army personnel are there to help the police. So even today, they’re still helping the police in carrying out their duties,” he said.

He added that with Op Benteng and the powers given to army personnel, the authorities will be able to reduce the number of undocumented migrants entering the country illegally.

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty had earlier urged Putrajaya to reconsider the move to unleash the army, saying there was valid concern that this could lead to excessive force or other abuses that would infringe on civil liberties.

Ismail also said the health ministry would evaluate the need to extend the MCO – which is slated to end on Jan 26 – or whether to make adjustments to the SOPs.

“Whether or not the SOP needs to be tightened, we will consider the health ministry’s proposals first. Everything will be evaluated before the two-week period is up.”

He said this when asked if the MCO would be tightened to replicate the first round of lockdowns in March last year, since Covid-19 cases are still increasing fast.