Only letters from 6 ministries, certain agencies accepted at roadblocks, says top cop

Beginning Tuesday, the police will only accept approval letters issued by six ministries and certain agencies in allowing workers to pass through roadblocks.

Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the letter was proof to allow workers to travel to and from their workplace.

“The public is reminded to submit the documents issued by the ministries or agencies that have been listed, when going through the roadblocks. Those who fail to do so or are found using a fake letter will be subject to stern action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342),” he said in a statement.

The ministries involved are the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) for the manufacturing and related services sector and the transport ministry for the public transport and essential goods sector.

For the agricultural, fisheries, livestock, plantation and commodity sector, the agriculture and food industry ministry will only issue approval letters to smallholders while for those with Companies Commission of Malaysia licences, letters will be issued by Miti.

“For Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) licence holders such as smallholders, estates, nurseries, rubber traders and rubber manufacturers, they are allowed to use approval letters from the plantation industries and commodities ministry or LGM, while for manufacturers of rubber products, their letters will be issued by Miti.

“All approval letters issued by agencies under the home ministry such as the immigration department, National Registration Department and Rela will be accepted for movement,” Acryl added.

He said approval letters issued by the communications and multimedia ministry would be accepted for the telecommunications, media, post, courier and broadcast services sector.

For financial institutions, insurance and stock trading, approval letters will be issued by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission.

Local authorities will issue letters for petty traders, hawkers and food truck operators while the issuance of business licence for strata, solid waste and sanitation management will be under the purview of Miti.

“The approval documents need to be dated June 1, 2021. Those without any legal documents or who possess expired or outdated (before June 1, 2021) letters will be ordered to turn back.

“The police will also issue travel permits to those who qualify under the regulations for interstate and inter-district travel, including for emergencies, self-employment and funeral arrangements,” he added.

Acryl said for self-employed individuals like plumbers, maintenance workers and traders, one-off travel permits must be obtained from the police for the duration of June 1 until June 14.

He said the police will approve one-off applications for two to three days for workers in sectors that are not allowed to operate but who need to go to their workplace for specific reasons, including for the preparation of documents, invoices and salary payments. However, they are required to present approval letters from their employers as proof.

He said that for operations of legal firms with 20% of their workforce, letters will be issued by the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division through Miti while legal practitioners who need to attend court to represent their clients in new cases (Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code) will need to produce printed documents or a letter from the legal firm at roadblocks.