M'sians Who Defied CMCO To Balik Kampung Could Lose Jobs If They Fail To Return To Work
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri now challenges those who managed to slip past interstate borders to return home before their employers fire them if they do not report to work after two consecutive days.
by Yap Wan XiangCover image via NEBS 2017 & Sayuti Zainudin/Malay Mail
Editor's Note: This story's headline has been edited for accuracy.
Malaysians who violated the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and travelled across states to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya may face termination by their employers
The statement was made by Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, whose organisation is the central establishment in representing private sector employers.
He said those who are currently stranded in their hometown and violated the interstate travel ban can be fired by their employers if they do not report to work after two consecutive days, reported Bernama.
Those who work in the public sector will not be spared as well.
Public Service Department (JPA) director-general Datuk Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman reportedly said that civil servants who had travelled back to their kampung can be faced with termination and other disciplinary action if they fail to return to work.
The duo's statement came after thousands of vehicles were found on interstate highways last Thursday, 21 May
Over the entire course of last week, tens of thousands of Malaysians had attempted to return to their hometown to celebrate Hari Raya, which fell on 24 May.
On the eve of the celebration, 1,158 vehicles were ordered to turn back at 162 interstate roadblocks nationwide, while the remaining 156,206 inspected vehicles were allowed to go through.
Under CMCO, interstate travel is only permitted when the individual receives approval from a police station. However, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob declared a blanket ban on all permit-based interstate travel on Thursday after seeing a trend of Malaysians not obliging to his repeated plea to just stay at home.
Ismail now challenges those who managed to slip past interstate borders to return to work after their Raya holiday
"They might have used the excuse of working in a different state as an excuse to cross state borders since we allow that," Malay Mail quoted him as saying yesterday, 26 May.
"[As] I said before, they might have successfully evaded the police roadblocks going to their hometowns but there will be no guarantee they can escape the police the second time, once they are heading back home."
However, Ismail still welcomes violators to come back home for work, contending that the worst that could happen is being slapped with fines.
"If they fear the compound and don't want to come home, they might lose their jobs," reminded the Defence Minister.