Bukit Mertajam MP claims no guidelines to appeal RM10k fine
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Kiong has claimed that there were no guidelines at his local Health Department Office on how to appeal the RM10,000 compound for individuals found violating the movement control order (MCO).
As a result, there will be no reduction to the new maximum fine provided for under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, previously capped at RM1,000...
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Kiong has claimed that there were no guidelines at his local Health Department Office on how to appeal the RM10,000 compound for individuals found violating the movement control order (MCO).
As a result, there will be no reduction to the new maximum fine provided for under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, previously capped at RM1,000.
"I checked with our local Health Department Office on how to appeal.
"It said there are no guidelines yet and until there is one, the compound remains at RM10,000," Sim said when contacted.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told Malaysiakini a press statement on the matter will be issued tomorrow.
The DAP lawmaker earlier took to Twitter to urge the government to reconsider the "burdensome" amount.
Sim also took a swipe at de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan who previously said the RM10,000 fine was the maximum amount that could be reduced through an appeal to the local Health Department Office, or challenged in court.
"The minister said the RM10,000 compound can be appealed at the District Health Office (PKD).
"But the PKD said there are no guidelines. Is the minister sharing 'fake news'?
"To fight Covid-19 is to strengthen the 3T (test, trace, treat) and not to find fault with the public and punish them heavily," Sim added.
On Thursday, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador similarly said the RM10,000 compound can be lessened, although it must be done through an appeal as police are only empowered to issue a compound.
"You have to remember that the police are not given the power to decide whether they want to fine someone RM10,000 or RM5,000.
"There is no such power given to any police officer," he said.
The next day, Hamid revealed that 330 people were fined RM10,000 in the first two days of the law being gazetted.
Among others, it was reported that a RM10,000 fine was issued against an individual who failed to scan the QR code using the MySejahtera app.
Responding to the incident, former premier Najib Abdul Razak said police being forced to issue the maximum fine shows why it is important to debate government orders in Parliament.
Earlier today, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong reportedly said the issue had been raised with the cabinet, which agreed that the maximum RM10,000 compound should not be given without consideration for an offender's situation.
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