GETTING TOUGH
109 in Johor compounded RM10,000 each; Pahang club owner fined RM50,000
THE authorities are showing they mean business, issuing compounds totalling RM1.13 million to 109 SOP offenders in Muar in the biggest bust in a single night to date. Many, however, remain unperturbed by the new RM10,000 compound as evidenced by continuing daily violations.
ENFORCEMENT action against those who violate the standard operating procedures (SOP) to stem Covid-19 transmissions has shifted into overdrive, with the authorities going all out to penalise offenders.
Bolstered by amendments to the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, enforcement action was in full swing yesterday with a flurry of summonses issued nationwide.
In Muar, 109 people paid the price for flouting the SOP at an illegal entertainment centre on Saturday. They were each issued a compound of RM10,000.
The overall amount of RM1.13 million was believed to be the largest in a single operation since the maximum compound was increased to RM10,000, effective March 11.
Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the 10.45pm raid was an integrated operation carried out by the state and Muar district Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.
“We conducted checks on 109 people aged between 17 and 52 on the premises, comprising 81 men and 28 women.
“Records showed that the outlet was raided twice on Feb 26 and March 10, during which compounds were issued and its licence was revoked.
“Despite it being barred from operating, and coupled with the fact that it does not have a licence, the entertainment outlet continued to operate.
“We detained the 52-year-old manager of the centre for violating the SOP and issued a compound of RM50,000 (to the cen
tre’s management),” said Ayob Khan at the state police headquarters yesterday.
He said all patrons were subjected to urine tests, but none came back positive.
Police, he said, had recorded statements from the centre’s caretaker and employees.
Police seized two speakers, two amplifiers, a DVD player, an equaliser and a computer processing unit.
Ayob Khan said entertainment centres made up a sizeable number of SOP offenders during the pandemic.
He said between May 20 and Jan 12, 49 raids were conducted and 1,498 compounds were issued for SOP violations involving entertainment centres.
“Since Jan 13, 21 raids have been conducted and 600 compounds were issued for SOP violations involving entertainment centres.”
In Triang, Pahang, the grand opening of a recreational club here fizzled out when its management was issued with a RM50,000 fine for two SOP violations.
Bera district police chief Deputy Superintendent Mansor Samsudin said the organiser had failed to adhere to the SOP governing physical distancing and for holding a lion dance show, which was not allowed during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Mansor said police had earlier received a call about a gathering at the club.
“When the police team arrived at the premises at 12.30pm, they saw that a huge tent had been set up.
“A lion dance troupe was performing and physical distancing was not enforced at the tables set up for guests under the canopy,” he said.
“The organiser was issued a RM50,000 compound for failure to ensure physical distancing at the tables. A lion dance performance is not allowed during the RMCO.”
He said the recreational club chairman, in his late 40s, was handed the compound notice and was reminded to adhere to the SOP.
Under the new Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, people who breach MCO regulations can be fined a sum not exceeding RM10,000, while companies which violated MCO regulations would be liable to a fine of up to RM50,000.
The slew of enforcement action, however, has done little to deter non-compliance with SOP.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said almost 300 people were issued with compounds for violating the SOP on Saturday.
Police, he said, arrested 337 people, 289 of whom were compounded and 48 remanded.
He said of the total, 109 were detained for failing to observe physical distancing, 72 for participating in activities at entertainment centres, and 55 for failing to provide equipment to register customers.
Other offences include traveling between states and districts without permission (42), not putting on face masks (41) and others (18).
“The MCO operation task force headed by the police conducted 68,046 checks, including at supermarkets, restaurants, hawker stalls, factories, banks and government offices.
“Also inspected were air, land and water terminals.”
The authorities detained seven illegal immigrants and seized two vehicles under Op Benteng.
On foreign worker screenings, Ismail Sabri said 2,909 were screened on Saturday, with eight testing positive.
He said the Human Resources Ministry had reported that 615,980 foreign workers had been screened, involving 31,921 employers.
“Of the total, 9,699 tested positive.”