KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): The federal government, upon the advice of the Ministry of Health (MoH), has executed the fifth directive of the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Masjid India and its surrounding area, according to defence minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The EMCO here will be enforced starting today (April 14) until April 28, and includes Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Melaka and Jalan Ampang. 

It is to be noted that the fourth EMCO area — the two buildings, Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion — is in close proximity to this area. 

Besides that, the third EMCO area — the Menara City One condominium — is located along Jalan Munshi Abdullah, part of the enclosed area in this new directive. 

"All residents of the affected areas are requested to remain calm and fully cooperate with MoH personnels and comply with all the instructions by the relevant authorities," Ismail Sabri said. 

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to extend the EMCO in Kampung Datuk Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Datuk Ibrahim Majid in Simpang Renggam, Kluang, Johor — which was supposed to end today — until April 28, following an increase in Covid-19 positive cases in the area. 

Simpang Renggam was the first area in the country to be put under EMCO, which was enforced on March 27, after 61 residents were found to have Covid-19.

The third EMCO involving Menara City One on Jalan Munshi Abdullah and the fourth EMCO at Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India, have also been extended until April 28, after more residents were infected with the novel coronavirus.

Ismail Sabri said the EMCO in areas covering Batu 21 to Batu 23, Kampung Sungai Lui in Hulu Langat, Selangor had ended yesterday, except for an Islamic school called Maahad Tahfiz An-Nabawiyyah and a house in Batu 23, Kampung Paya Lebar, Sungai Lui, where the EMCO has been extended until April 28. 

Meanwhile, during the third phase of the MCO, which starts tomorrow, police will no longer issue compounds to those found violating the order, said Ismail Sabri.

Instead, they will immediately be arrested and charged in court.

According to him, 9,090 people were arrested during the MCO, while 4,036 compounds were issued, as of yesterday. 

On the spread of fake news, Ismail Sabri said the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have opened 217 investigation papers.

Of the total, 162 are still under investigation, while 23 have been charged in court and 4 have pleaded guilty. 

"I would like to remind [the public] that the authorities will still take action against offenders who have uploaded fake news even though they have deleted the posts after they went viral," he said. 

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