PM urges 'humane approach' when issuing SOP fines

Authorities should use their discretion and humanity when taking action against members of the public who flout the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs), said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said these two traits are important although it is understandable that the authorities must be firm to ensure the public complies with the SOP.

"I urge enforcement agencies monitoring SOP compliance among the public to take a humane approach. I understand the people's plight to find income to survive in this pandemic situation.

"Some of them opened a small business like selling burgers, snacks, drinks, or their own crops. They are not owners of big companies but they are just a licence holder to run a small business," Muhyiddin said in a speech.

He was speaking during the launch of a Covid-19 green zone community competition in Kuala Lumpur.

Recently, burger seller Wan Mohd Faisal Wan Kadir in Kelantan was slapped with a RM50,000 fine for operating out of the permissible trading hours under the movement control order (MCO) in the state.

Many parties have expressed sympathy with Faisal and lambasted the authorities and the government for exorbitant fines against small traders like him.

Subsequently, a rojak seller in the state suffered a similar fate after he was compounded RM50,000 for operating his stall beyond the allowed hours.

A sundry store owner also offered to give up his shop after admitting that he couldn't afford to pay the RM50,000 fine as he already struggled to make ends meet.

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