A HEAVY PRICE TO PAY
THOSE who flout the S.O.P can now be compounded up to RM10,000 with police keeping a close watch especially on those trying to ‘balik kampung’, or make interstate travel, without approval.
THE higher compounds for flouting standard operating procedures (SOP) during the Conditional Movement Control Order were enforced from 12.01am yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said the fines from RM1,000 to RM10,000 were to deter more people from becoming repeat offenders and to stop illegal interstate travels that were potentially risky.
He said police nationwide had been ordered to keep a close watch on all those trying to balik kampung, or travel between states without permission.
“The higher fine of RM10,000 is part of the amendments to the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which was gazetted to prevent Covid-19.
“It is not meant to burden and punish the public,” he told reporters at Bukit Aman yesterday, adding that the move was also aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
“It is not because the government is purposely collecting money from the public as alleged by some quarters. The police are entrusted with the responsibility of issuing compounds to anyone who flouts the SOP, but it is still the district Health department which collects the payment or reduces the fine, based on a caseto-case or need basis.
“Police do not have any power to reduce the compound amount. It is not a decision by the police department,” he said.
Hamid reiterated that the higher compound was to deter repeat offenders who purposely ignore the SOP.
“We have a list of these headstrong repeat offenders and they are in fact our target because they could be a carrier of the virus and a possible spreader.”
He said it was crucial for everyone to follow the Health Ministry’s advice and directives diligently, if people wanted to recover and return to normal routines.
“The Health Ministry knows better about the risks from its assessments. Had it not assessed the situation accordingly and advised the government, the number of cases would have surely worsened beyond control.
“In fact, I have personally attended all the Health directorgeneral’s meetings and so far the predictions and suggestions have been accurate,” Hamid said, calling on the public to continue following the SOP and directives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As long as the virus is still out there the cases can suddenly spike — this is what we want to avoid. Stay home and stay safe. If we had not gone on with the MCO 2.0, the country would have recorded up to 10,000 cases a day. If this happened, the whole health system could crash. We are in this together, so for a bit longer, control your urges and follow the SOP.”