Wrong to say Penangites not allowed to cross over to mainland - cops

CORONAVIRUS | Penang Northeast Police chief Soffian Santong has refuted an online report which stated that "Penangites living on the island are advised not to go to the mainland side of the state without a valid reason".

The move was reportedly imposed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Soffian told reporters today that his boss had alerted him regarding his remark on Malay Mail, which was "inaccurate".

He said the report that people on the mainland was no longer allowed to go to the mainland without a valid reason was "wrong".

"The interpretation was wrong. When we conduct roadblocks, we will not allow those without valid reasons or reasons which cannot be accepted, to travel on main roads, or those who are purposely travelling for fun (sengaja pergi berjalan-jalan) or going around to find for food, for example to Bukit Mertajam," Soffian said.

"We are not banning everyone from travelling, only for those who do not have a valid reason. We do not want people to get the wrong impression that we do not allow people to travel to the mainland (Seberang Perai)," he added...