KUALA LUMPUR:The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) arrested a total of 289 individuals for disobeying  the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide on Wednesday.

Senior Minister (Defence Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said out of the total, 277 individuals were compounded while 11 others were remanded and one was released on police bail.

"Among the offences committed were not wearing face masks, failing to comply with physical distancing and travelled cross-states and districts without permission," he said in a statement on Thursday.

On Ops Benteng, he said the authorities detained a total of 35 illegal immigrants (PATI) and seized nine vehicles trying to enter the country's borders.

"The government is taking stern action against any party who tries to enter the country's borders, including those who try to use the rat lanes," he added.

On compulsory quarantine, Ismail Sabri said a total of 70,939 individuals had returned to the country through international border entrances and were housed at quarantine centres.

Of the total, he said 10,498 individuals were undergoing compulsory quarantine while 404 individuals were sent to hospitals for treatment.