KUALA LUMPUR, March 29: The government will enforce an Enhanced Movement Order Control (EMCO) in areas covering Batu 21 to Batu 24, Sungai Lui in Hulu Langat, Selangor, starting from midnight tonight.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the EMCO involves seven villages, comprising two Orang Asli settlements and five Malay villages.

The order, effective from midnight (12.01 am tonight) until April 13, covering 700 homes with 3,918 residents, he said in a statement here this evening.

Ismail Sabri said the decision was made after taking into account the high number of COVID-19 positive cases involving Maahad Tahfiz AnNabawiyyah students at Batu 23, Sungai Lui.

He said the Ministry of Health had confirmed that there were 71 positive cases out of 274 students at the maahad tahfiz.

All residents and visitors who are already in the areas are not allowed to leave home during the implementation of the EMCO, he said.

"Non-residents and visitors will not be allowed to enter the areas during the period of the EMCO and all business activities suspended.

“For the next 14 days, food to all residents will be provided by the Welfare Department and a Medical Base will be opened in affected areas while all entry points into the areas will be closed,” he said.

Ismail Sabri who is also Defence Minister said to ensure compliance with this order, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and the People's Volunteer Corps will control the entire area.

All residents should remain calm and give full cooperation to the Ministry of Health personnel as well as to follow orders from authorities, he said.

Those who need assistance or information can direct their call to 03-89254809 / 03-8911420.

For the record, this is the second EMCO implemented by the government after two areas in Simpang Renggam - Kampung Dato’ Ibrahim Majid and Bandar Baharu Dato’ Ibrahim Majid - are put under the same order, effective March 27.