14 in Kota Samarahan compounded for SOP violations since May 7 — Minos
KUCHING: A total 14 people have been compounded in Kota Samarahan for Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) violations within three days since May 7, said Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Dato Peter Minos.
He informed that MPKS is among the latest local councils in Sarawak now given the power to compound and fine those not complying with SOPs against Covid-19.
He explained such power is given by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing under the Protection Of Public Health Ordinance, 1999.
“Now the offenders are paying up the compound of maximum of RM1,500 per transgression.
“MPKS is helping the police
who also do their work but the police cannot do it alone. We need to give a helping hand,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He lamented that there are members of the public who seemed not really bothered about the anti-Covid-19 SOPs and rules from the Ministry of Health (MoH) or Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
He described them as a really difficult lot that only fines may work on them since words and warnings do not.
“It seems to me that we cannot allow a few in our midst to do what they please. The law must come in to fine and compound them. If not, we can never ever win the war against Covid-19.
“We all must help the government in all possible ways to win the war. Some people are too quick in hammering MoH and SDMC on small slips, not knowing that both agencies work day and night, and theirs is a burden that not many of us relish to bear.
“So, the least that we in the local councils can do is to do our small part. We float or sink together with the government and the people,” he said.