KK MP hits out over hefty fines for MCO violations

Kota Kinabalu: DAP’s Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin (pic) has slammed the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Federal Government for failing to draw up proper guidelines on hefty penalties imposed under the Emergency Ordinance. 

Chan was referring to the maximum RM10,000 fine imposed on individuals for violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.

He pointed out discrepancies with how the compounds are issued, saying it is a reckless legislation without careful consideration of the matter at hand. 

“Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador claimed that the police do not have the right to increase or decrease the compound amount and therefore the people will be automatically imposed the RM10,000 compound.

“This is contrary to what Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakub said, that the maximum RM10,000 fine will only be imposed on repeat and hardcore offenders.

“However, since the first day of enforcement, the people have discovered that RM10,000 is the default penalty and will be set if there is no appeal. It is not the same thing at all,” said Chan in a statement, Saturday.

Chan reasoned that there are varying degrees of SOP violations, and not all offences warrant a hefty fine of RM10,000, especially for small offences, such as forgetting to scan on MySejahtera or getting body temperatures checked. 

“Of course, there are serious ones, such as violating a quarantine order or crossing interstate without permission. 

“But this Emergency Ordinance, drafted and gazetted by the PN government, does not distinguish between the severity of the crime, resulting in this ridiculous situation of having a one-size-fits-all punishment of RM10,000,” he said. 

As such, he said people are only left with the option to lodge an appeal or plea at the district health office (PKD) in order to reduce the punishment, which brings about its own set of problems. 

He explained that while the public can lodge an appeal within two weeks at the PKD, it will only disrupt the efficiency of its operations. 

“The PKD is already very busy tracking down Covid-19 hotspots within their districts and coming up with measures to fight the pandemic, so why increase their workload?

“Besides that, there is an even more serious problem regarding the approval of the appeal which depends on the arbitrary judgement of the PKD director. 

“To whom can the people further appeal if the PKD’s decision is unfavourable? What is the mechanism?” questioned Chan.

Additionally, Chan suggested that police officers should be equipped with an electronic system which keeps a record of an offender’s repeated violations. 

“Most Malaysians agree that the RM1,000 compound is already too much for such casual offenders, let alone 10 times that of RM10,000,” he said. 

Chan said the hefty penalties will severely impact many Malaysians, especially low-income groups, who are financially struggling in the country’s sluggish economy.  

“RM10,000 is more than three times the monthly income of a B40 family with a monthly income of RM3,000.00! 

“It is ridiculous for the PN government to have gazetted such a draconian and oppressive piece of law hiding under the Emergency declaration without having being vetted by Parliament!” Chan stressed.