Interdistrict travel fine: Minister explains confusion
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today ironed out a confusion surrounding district borders with regard to interdistrict travel restrictions under the movement control order (MCO).
This was after people complained they were fined even though they did not cross district borders because police were using a different definition.
Ismail clarified the authoritative district borders are those demarcated by states and not those demarcated by district police headquarters...
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today ironed out a confusion surrounding district borders with regard to interdistrict travel restrictions under the movement control order (MCO).
This was after people complained they were fined even though they did not cross district borders because police were using a different definition.
Ismail clarified the authoritative district borders are those demarcated by states and not those demarcated by district police headquarters.
The senior minister said he had informed the police on which map the government refers to in its standard operating procedure (SOP) and the mistake was corrected.
"There are people who complained that they were stopped at a roadblock because (it turned out that) the border was the one under the police jurisdiction.
"So, I myself had addressed the confusion to the police and informed them that the districts which we refer to are the ones under the government administration," he said.
Recently, a Facebook user claimed his daughter was fined for driving from Subang Jaya to Shah Alam although both areas belong under the Petaling district.
Police claimed the daughter had violated the interdistrict travel ban as she had travelled from the jurisdiction of the Subang Jaya district police headquarters to the Shah Alam district police headquarters.
The National Security Council had also clarified that districts mentioned in the SOP refer to those set by state authorities.
Following the confusion, Ismail said those who were fined over the matter can appeal at health district offices.
He also explained the compound amount of RM1,000 is not fixed, but rather flexible based on the appeal made to the health district office.
"If the district office agrees with the appeal, it can reduce the amount to perhaps RM50 or RM100.
"The RM1,000 is the maximum. Offenders can appeal," he added.
Separately, Ismail said he will discuss with the Education Ministry and the police on parents, who need to do cross-district or state travel to send their children to hostels, be allowed to use a letter from the school instead of applying for police permission.
Beginning next month, schools will be reopened in stages across the country.
Another example in what seems a never ending string of incompetence and disorganisation by PN. As NSC is the highest rule making body should you not have gathered the police Rela army and local authorities to explain to them the latest decision and how it is to be enforced. And as for the people wrongly issued summons, why should they pay any amount when no wrong was committed. If the description of the offence is brief in the summons how is the offender to appeal. When Ministers do wrong there is a long investigation with papers sent to the AG and somehow the Minister is off the hook. But when it comes to the man in the street a summons is immediately issued or its the jail. Incompetence now leading and causing unfairness.
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