The government has denied allegations that the third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) from April 15 to 28 was not gazetted.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that following the allegations, the police had also been accused of not having the authority to arrest those who defied the MCO.

However, he said, the allegations were not true and the government will never compromise with any person spreading false news.

"The government views seriously the spreading of fake news. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has opened 220 investigation papers on fake news related to COVID-19.

"Of the total, 152 cases are still under investigation, while 24 have been indicted in court and 13 have pleaded guilty," he said at a press conference here today.