Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali said the order came into effect under the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).

He said the move involving foreign workers would be implemented soon to curb the spread of Covid-19 following a spike in clusters and cases involving industries.

“We are taking the measure so that they do not mingle with the local community in housing areas who fear they may contract the infection.

“We have also received complaints from the local community who raised the problem over fears of increasing cases among foreign workers who are working in factories and living in residential housing areas even though they complied with the standard operating procedure,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the Kuala Linggi state constituency Outreach Vaccination Programme here today.

Commenting further, Sulaiman said that as an example, there are more than 3,000 foreign workers in the Ayer Keroh area and they were ordered to move to the identified locations.

Among the locations identified are the building near Melaka Sentral which can accommodate 1,400 people apart from the Chief Minister Incorporated building which is vacant.

“This is seen as the best approach to separate foreign workers from the local community now. If the employers are defiant, firm action can be taken under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342) ,” he said.