Some workers are allegedly using the permit to travel on the weekends
Malaysia police can take “stern action” against workers who allegedly use consent letters from their employers as an excuse to leave their home for personal reasons amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The police may also notify employers and hold them equally responsible, an official said.
The warning comes after authorities found individuals reportedly using their permit outside of their work hours to get past the government’s conditional movement control order (CMCO).
Under the CMCO, only authorised and emergency personnel are permitted to cross state borders. Those travelling for work between districts will need to present a letter from their management validating their employment status.
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With travel restrictions extended to 9 November, companies are urged to continue operating remotely. However, employees who report to work in an office, establishment or factory must first secure their employer’s approval in writing before they can pass through roadblocks or checkpoints.
“This letter is for work, not for holidays on weekends and so on,” said Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at a news conference this week.
“The police can actually take stern action on those who misuse those letters for purposes other than work. So, we leave it to the police to take the appropriate action,” the minister said.
But employers may also be held liable for workers abusing the system, said Police Chief ACP S. Shanmugamoorthy Chinniah of Sentul district.
“If prior to this, only compounds or warnings were given to those who flouted the CMCO, this time the same actions will be taken against their employers,” the police chief said.
Authorities have designated special lanes at these checkpoints to accommodate authorised personnel, medical frontliners and essential service workers more quickly during heavy traffic.
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However, some service workers have allegedly been using their travel permits even when they are off duty and have no valid reason to travel.
“There were also some workers who made copies of the letters for their colleagues, but it is not possible that they are all working at the same time on non-working days,” he said.
Authorities will now keep a close watch on service workers, particularly those working for courier services, and perform a “more careful and frequent inspection,” the police chief said.
Some individuals have reportedly presented documents indicating they were authorised to deliver parcels but, upon closer inspection, were found to be making false claims, Malay Mail reported.
