IPOH: A total of 35 vehicles, believed to be heading to the east coast without valid reasons, were ordered to turn back on passing two roadblocks at district and state borders in Gerik yesterday.

Perak police chief, Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, said that the vehicles were ordered to turn back at the roadblocks, mounted at KM89 of Jalan Gerik-Kuala Kangsar and KM9 of Jalan Raya Timur Barat Gerik-Jeli, as of 4 pm yesterday.

When contacted last night, he said 27 of the vehicles were turned back for producing unrelated International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) letters, while two vehicles showed different vaccination dates and the other three did not have a police permit.

He added that three other vehicles were ordered to turn back after producing an invalid police permit.

He also said the move was in accordance with the Inspector-General of Police's orders that movement using MITI letters would not be allowed from yesterday until Wednesday, except those with MITI letters related to transporting petrol and food items.

"The number of vehicles on the road dropped by 30 per cent compared with previously," he said.

-- BERNAMA