Kepayan prison in Kota Kinabalu to come under EMCO

The Kepayan prison and its staff quarters in Kampung Matambai, Kota Kinabalu will come under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) from tomorrow until Nov 2.

Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the 14-day EMCO would involve 3,511 individuals comprising 2,914 prisoners and 597 prison staff.

He said the decision was made during a special meeting of the National Security Council today, following the increase in number of Covid-19 cases in the area.

“To control the spread of the disease at the prison and staff quarters, and on the advice of the health ministry, the EMCO will allow movements in and out of the area to be controlled, and facilitate Covid-19 screenings.

“Food supplies will be distributed by the Sabah state government and coordinated by the state Disaster Operations Control Centre,” he said in a press conference on the recovery movement control order (RMCO) at Wisma Pertahanan today.

In another development, Ismail said Malaysians working in Singapore had never been barred from returning home, and that they were only required to apply through the MyTravelPass system on the official immigration department website.

For those working in Singapore who do not wish to return hom through the periodical commuting arrangement, he said they could go directly to the Sultan Iskandar Building entrance or Sultan Abu Bakar Complex in Johor Bahru and undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days.

“The permission given is for the reciprocal green lane, and it was previously announced by the foreign ministry.

“Further information on this matter can be obtained from the immigration department and foreign ministry,” he said.