KUALA LUMPUR: Non-conventional ships (NCS) will be allowed to enter Sabah waters for barter trade and transhipment from today until Jan 15.
Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the transhipment activity is needed to clear out stocks in port storage in Sandakan and Tawau.
He said the government will also allow international students from private academic centres such as language centres, training centres, skills centres and tuition centres that are registered with the education ministry into the country for the 2021 academic year, beginning Jan 1.
Ismail added that all students will be required to take a Covid-19 swab test three days before their departure, along with another one upon arrival at the airport, after which they must undergo quarantine for seven days.
On the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at Taman Telipok Ria, Tuaran, Sabah, he said it would end as scheduled on Dec 24.
He said the health ministry had conducted 9,065 screenings, where 806 positive Covid-19 cases were recorded among the residents in the locality.
Meanwhile, on movement control order-related offences, he said 169 people were arrested yesterday where all were issued compounds.
The offences include taking part in activities at entertainment centres, failure to wear face masks and failing to provide materials for contact tracing or registration.
A total of 2,900 compliance task force teams were deployed to conduct checks on 48,111 supermarkets, restaurants, hawker stalls, factories, banks, among others.
Ismail also said police caught 49 illegal immigrants and seized seven vehicles under Ops Benteng
He added that 90,800 people had arrived through KLIA from July 24 to Dec 23 from various countries.
A total of 535 people were sent to hospital for treatment, while 82,983 were allowed to return home and 7,282 are currently undergoing mandatory quarantine.