By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Feb 27: The increase in the amount of fine for individuals and companies which violated the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic starting March 11 has been described by some quarters as hefty and burdensome.
Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association Kuching branch’s chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok opined that the higher fine is burdensome and substantial.
“We had the old Act that fine only up to RM1,000 and have been criticised for being too low especially against companies that breached the Covid-19 SOPs.
“Now under Emergency Ordinance (EO), the fine is being put up to deter and prevent infringement of the SOP.
“The new fine is quite substantial and companies and individuals will have to abide by it.
“These new fines can cause heavy financial burden and affect the financial health of the lower-income family,” he said in a statement.
Sim opined that the amount of fine should be increased in stages so that first-time offenders would not be fined heavily on the initial offence.
He also proposed to the federal government to have an avenue for the offending parties to appeal to reduce the fine especially those in the lower incomes and small businesses.
Sim who is also a councillor for Kota Samarahan said public information and constant reminders of the SOPs must be put in public places so that the people will remember and follow the SOPs.
Meanwhile, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos also concurred with Sim that the amount of fine under the new law is excessive.
“It goes without saying and said in all honesty that the RM10,000 fine is too much and too excessive.
“Fining an offender with a whopping RM10,000… that is ‘killing’ him or her financially.
“For the well to do, RM10,000 is peanut but for many financially struggling Malaysians at this time of Covid-19, RM10,000 is quite beyond reach or even impossible to attain,” he said.
Minos believed that offenders must be taught a lesson but with a sense of fairness and the amount of fine should be reasonable in the current prevailing situation of the economy.
He opined that doubling the amount of fine from RM1,000 to RM2,000 should be enough to teach the violator a lesson.
On Feb 25, the government announced that individuals who violate the SOPs for the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic can be fined up to RM10,000 starting March 11.
It added companies or corporations that violate the SOPs can be fined up to RM50,000. —DayakDaily
