KUALA LUMPUR:A total of 789 individuals were arrested yesterday for violating the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Senior Minister (Defence Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said of the total, 764 individuals were compounded, 21 remanded and four others were released on police bail.

Leading the list of offences was failing to wear face mask and attempts to travel cross-state or district without permission.

Among the offences recorded were not wearing face masks (191), crossing districts or states without permission (160), no physical distancing (110), failing to provide equipment or record customers (128), premises operating overtime or without permission (41), leaving home without a reasonable reason (23) and others (136)," he said in a statement today.

Through Op Benteng, Ismail said 20 illegal immigrants (PATI) were arrested besides four land vehicles seized.

Regarding the screening of foreign workers, Ismail said a total of 7,003 foreign workers underwent screening tests yesterday and out of that number, 28 people were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Cumulatively, since December 1, 2020, a total of 312,623 foreign workers have undergone the COVID-19 screening test, with 6,093 of them confirmed positive.