UPDATE 1-Army patrols Malaysian streets as coronavirus cases spike

* Malaysia has most infections in Southeast Asia
* Malaysia has recorded 9 deaths, 1,183 positive cases
* Most cases linked to Feb. 27-March 1 religious event
* Southeast Asia records more than 3,200 positive cases

(Adds army deployment)
By Joseph Sipalan
KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Reuters) - Malaysia deployed the
army on Sunday to enforce a two-week curb on travel in a country
that has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast
Asia, most of them linked to a mass religious gathering.
The country has so far reported nine deaths and 1,183
infections. Southeast Asia has recorded a total of more than
3,200 positive cases, with the other big centres being Thailand,
Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.
Malaysia called in the army after some people continued to
defy the restrictions that came into force on Wednesday, the
defence minister said in a briefing after the deployment started
at noon.
"Even though police have said 90% compliance now, 10% is not
a small number," Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
"Among the things that will be done jointly by the police
and army include road blocks. Likewise for patrols in urban and
rural areas, maintaining security at hospitals, managing areas
that are congested and may not abide by the order such as
markets."
The four-day Islamic gathering held at a mosque near the
Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is connected to 60% of all the
cases in the country, whose tally is only behind those of China
and South Korea in Asia.
Worshippers who attended the event are cooperating with
authorities, an organiser said in a statement, after the
government said on Thursday that it had yet to trace 4,000 of
the 14,500 Malaysian residents who attended.
The health ministry said on Saturday it expected the number
of cases to spike next week as it tried to track down unscreened
participants of the Feb. 27-March 1 congregation.
"After hearing reports of thousands or participants yet to
be screened, many had returned to their district health
departments or hospitals repeatedly until their names and
details were recorded," Abdullah Cheong, a leader of the event's
organising team, said on Saturday.
"We are prepared and have given our full commitment to help
the authorities deal with the pandemic."
He also said 12,500 people attended the gathering, including
foreigners and 200 Rohingya refugees. The government has put the
number at 16,000.

(Writing by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and
Christopher Cushing)