Covid-19: Police, legislative bodies to handle serious SOP violations

KUALA LUMPUR: Serious cases of violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) would be handled by the relevant authorities such as the police and legislative bodies, said Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.

He said at the Health Ministry level, anyone found to have violated the SOP would be slapped with a compound, under Section 25 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342).

However, Dr Noor Azmi said the law would only provide for a maximum compound of RM1,000.

“If the case is brought to court under Section 24 (Act 342), they (the police and court) would decide based on the offence committed.

“No one is above the law, which is enforced not to victimise anyone but to protect the country and save the lives of the people,” he said during the question-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) on whether heavier penalties should be imposed against VIPs such as a minister who were found to have violated the SOP set.

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Azmi said the government was still waiting for the report on ‘Sputnik-V’ Covid-19 vaccine from Russia.

“Based on the information received, the vaccine has yet to be registered and Russia will be conducting Phase III of its clinical trials. So, in terms of clinical trials, it is not completed yet,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Bersatu-Sabak Bernam).

According to Dr Noor Azmi, vaccine development is a long process that requires a thorough study in order to ensure its safety and effectiveness. — Bernama