GEORGE TOWN (March 20): Three tabligh members, including one who was suspected to have attended the recent rally at the  Seri Petaling Mosque, were arrested while trying to flee from a roadblock at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, near here today.

Shortly after they were detained at about 6.30pm, police escorted the trio aged between 27 and 56 years, to the Bayan Baru Health Clinic to undergo COVID-19 screening.

Barat Daya district police chief Supt AA Anbalagan said one of the three men admitted he was a participant at the recent tabligh gathering and had not undergone screening on his return.

“Initial investigation found that one of the three men admitted that he had attended the event at the Sri Petaling Mosque but did not go for health screening upon returning home,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have opened an investigation paper in connection with a doctor who allegedly violated the Movement Control Order when he refused to leave a recreational park here after being advised by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers.

Timur Laut district police chief ACP Soffian Santong said in the 6 pm incident, the man, in his 60, was jogging at Taman Bandaraya before the MBPP officers spotted him.

“However, the private clinic doctor refused to leave saying that he had the right to stay healthy and the park was a public area.

“The MBPP officers then lodged a police report  over the incident," he told Bernama here today.