KUCHING: It’s up to the police whether to allow or disallow more than one person in a vehicle during the movement control order (MCO) period, said State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said the committee had presented the matter to the police and that it was up to them to evaluate the circumstances.
“It is at their discretion. They also understand that sometimes there is a need for two people to be in a vehicle,” he said at the Covid-19 daily update press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
He said in the rural areas for example, it was not uncommon for a longhouse to have only one car, meaning that car would be serving whoever was in need.
“The police will listen to the explanation given. However, this should not be an excuse by the public to fill up their cars with people and go out,” he stressed.
He said there were instances where the public took advantage of this and made lots of excuses when stopped by the authorities.
“I wish to remind the public that these measures are not for the police. They are for our own good. The most important thing is trying to avoid crowds as crowding will increase the chance of getting infected,” said Uggah.
He urged the public to continue practising social distancing.
