Cops stepping up roadblock checks to foil ‘balik kampung’ attempts

Police have had to step up inspections at roadblocks in conjunction with Aidilfitri in view of the many tricks used by members of the public in their attempt to “balik kampung” or return to their home towns for the holidays, says Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Abd Rahim Jaafar.

Acknowledging the sentiments of those who have to line up or spend several hours at roadblocks, he said the move was nonetheless necessary to ensure the success of the government’s directives to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

“We do not want anyone to slip past or lie to us at roadblocks, because people are using various tactics now, showing us all sorts of letters.

“For instance, using a work pass to go home. That day at the roadblock in Bentong (Pahang), a van carrying 15 people claimed to be heading to Terengganu for work, but when we checked further, it turned out they were using work passes to go back to their home towns for the holidays.

“Things like this are occurring now. The public are trying their hardest, using various tactics,” he said at a press conference today.

He also said that police had issued over 100,000 compounds since March 18 last year for various violations of SOPs and related laws.

“The majority of compounds issued were related to not wearing face masks and not practising physical distancing. Currently, SOP compliance operations are more focused on night clubs which have reopened,” he said.