PASIR MAS: Over 500 police personnel, including those from the General Operations Force (GOF), will be involved in tightening control at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Kelantan once it reopens on April 1.

       State deputy police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the police will also conduct patrolling activities at 92 illegal bases around the border, reported Bernama.

       “The patrol duties will be focusing on preventing Covid-19 transmission, ensuring standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance and curbing smuggling activities.

       “We expect an increase in people’s movement in and out of the country and the Kelantan police are prepared to face any possibilities,” he told reporters after a programme to hand over donations to flood victims at SK Gual To’ Deh near Rantau Panjang here yesterday.

       Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia will enter the “Transition to Endemic” phase and will reopen its borders starting April 1.

       Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases in Sabah have dropped to below 1,000 for the first time in over a month.

       State Minister in charge of Covid-19 Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said a total of 796 new cases were recorded yesterday, a drop of 380 cases from Friday.

       “The last time we had less than a thousand daily cases was on Feb 4,” he said at his daily briefing here.

       He said most districts recorded a drop in daily Covid-19 cases. However, Beaufort, Sandakan, Kuala Penyu, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Nabawan, Kalabakan and Tongod recorded increases.

       Masidi said no new clusters were reported while active Covid-19 clusters remained in 26 areas.

       Of the new cases, he said over 97% or 779 were under Categories One and Two, with three cases recorded in Category 3, 10 (Category 4) and four (Category 5).