PADAWAN: Police have compounded a total of 18 individuals including a woman who attempted inter-district travel without a permit and a valid reason since May 22.
Padawan district police chief Supt Aidil Bolhassan hoped during the upcoming Gawai festival, the public would continue to abide by the rules and not make inter-district travel without an approved permit from the police.
“During the Hari Raya celebration, we have already issued 18 compound notices to 17 men and a woman since May 22.
“Some said they did not know how to get a permit to travel, some were travelling to Kuching to shop for their daily essential items while some were confused with the Serian district border and Padawan district border,” he said when met by reporters today during a roadblock at Mile 18, Kuching-Serian Road.
Aidil added the police and the army would be looking out for individuals who were undertaking inter-district travel to go back and celebrate Gawai Dayak.
He pointed out that most of the people were aware of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the restriction on travelling across districts.
“However, there are a few who purposely wanted to travel because they could not travel for the past two months due to the movement control order (MCO).
“Meanwhile, there are also some who do not understand what inter-district means. Hence, we hope that the public can access our website and find out more about inter-district travel as well as identify the different districts,” he said.
Aidil revealed that daily, an average of approximately 9,000 to 10,000 vehicles had been passing through the roadblocks in Padawan during the Hari Raya celebration.
If road users are found travelling without a permit approved by the police, they will be compounded under Regulation 5(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas)(No.6) Regulations 2020.
