PETALING JAYA: The special operation exemption given to two breweries has been withdrawn, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pix).
“A special Cabinet meeting today, chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, decided to cancel the special operation allowance given to the Heineken Malaysia and Carlsberg factories,” he said.
“Miti (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) will release a letter of termination immediately and so there should be no more issues regarding why these factories are still operating,” Ismail Sabri, who is also Senior Minister, said in a press conference today.
The issue came to light when a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth leader questioned the government over the move to allow Heineken to continue production.
A letter by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to Heineken allowing it to continue operating despite the movement control order (MCO) went viral on social media on Sunday.
In the letter, the ministry said that it agreed that the alcoholic drinks manufacturer had fulfilled the criteria as a food supply operator, therefore allowing it to operate during the MCO.
On other matters, Ismail Sabri said there was a 51% increase in arrests made on April 5 for flouting the movement control order (MCO), with 554 individuals nabbed at roadblocks and during surveillance rounds.
“Yesterday, 743 roadblocks were set up nationwide in which authorities inspected 293,051 vehicles, performed 25,818 spot checks and 4,822 premises were checked as well.
“The police arrested a total of 554 individuals compared to 368 arrests on Saturday.
“Before this, I was proud because the number of arrests went down for four days in a row but yesterday it suddenly shot up by 51%.” Ismail Sabri said.
He warned that the police will not hesitate to take stricter action against individuals who defy the MCO.
He added that out of the 554 individuals who were arrested, 489 were remanded, 65 were released on bail and 213 people were charged in court.
The cumulative number of arrests made from March 18 to April 5 is 6,048.
Besides this, Ismail Sabri said the Housing and Local Government Ministry has supervised decontamination works in 56 areas in nine states till April 5 which includes 27 areas in Johor and six in Sarawak.
“The operations covered 113 public areas including houses of worship, public markets and housing areas. Nineteen government buildings were also decontaminated,“ he said.
