Ismail Sabri tells officers not to misinterpret SOPs during enforcement
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the enforcement officers not to misinterpret the full lockdown standard operating procedures (SOPs) when carrying out their duties.
He cited the confusion which arose surrounding few issues, including public misunderstanding of SOPs on MySejahtera after 31 workers were fined for not updating their health status on the mobile app
"I would like to inform that not updating health status is not an offence. It is not stated as an offence under Act 342 (Prevention and Control of...
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the enforcement officers not to misinterpret the full lockdown standard operating procedures (SOPs) when carrying out their duties.
He cited the confusion which arose surrounding few issues, including public misunderstanding of SOPs on MySejahtera after 31 workers were fined for not updating their health status on the mobile app
"I would like to inform that not updating health status is not an offence. It is not stated as an offence under Act 342 (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988).
"The enforcement officers are advised not to err in interpreting the SOPs enforced by the government," Ismail (above) said in a statement today.
"This also included the SOP violation where firms and factories are found operating beyond the stipulated time limit. Enforcement action must be taken against employers or companies.
"It is not the workers who committed the offence as they have to follow the instruction of employers, so compound must be issued against the companies, factories or employers who issue such instruction," he added.
Similarly, Ismail said action must be taken against the employers for sending their staff to the workplace.
While not updating the health status in the mobile app is not an offence, he advised the people to do it on a daily basis as MySejahtera is used to monitor the outbreak.
"As such, the app is not merely to be used for scanning when one enters a premise. It is more important to ensure it is updated every day, indeed every time depending on your movement and activities that day,” Ismail said.
Earlier today, the National Security Council (NSC) intervened in an incident where police fined 31 workers for allegedly not updating their health status on the MySejahtera app.
NSC director-general Mohd Rabin Basir said only those who travelled abroad or came in close contact with a Covid-19 patient need to update their health status.
"It has been proposed that the Manjung police (in Perak) take appropriate action by asking the district health department to cancel the fines," he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily.
He explained that the workers will only need to update their health status if there had been Covid-19 cases at their workplace.
Rabin added that there will be no further action over the incident.
Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirming today that the compounds issued would be cancelled.
Yesterday, Harian Metro reported that 31 workers were fined between RM1,500 and RM2,000 each for failing to update their health status on the mobile app.
Manjung district police chief Nor Omar Sappi was quoted as saying that they comprised 29 workers at an oil and gas firm and two from a chicken factory.
The Manjung police claimed this was a rule for the manufacturing sector.
Meanwhile, Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, in a statement, claimed police had misinterpreted the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said the police by issuing the compounds had erred in their understanding of the health ministry's director-general's orders, as the need for daily health status updates should only apply to persons tested positive for Covid-19 or close contacts to those in the industrial and manufacturing sector.
"I would like to remind enforcement officers that the Director-General of Health’s orders are not gazetted and so, the public is not deemed to have knowledge of them.
"Such orders must be communicated to the parties concerned and only if they failed or refused to comply can the compounds be issued or in the alternative, they be charged in court," said the Perak DAP leader.
Ngeh added that he was prepared to offer free legal service if necessary.
