KUCHING, Aug 28: Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) is monitoring all business premises to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) for the 22 sub-sectors that have been allowed to open for operation under Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
According to KPDNHEP deputy director of enforcement (operations) Shamsul Nizam Khalil, more than 2,200 of the ministry’s plain clothes officers have been deployed in “Ops Samar” throughout the country to ensure that business premises which fall under the additional 22 categories sector do not contribute to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
“Since the enforcement of Act 342 SOPs compliance on May 13 until Aug 26, 2021, a total of 746,645 premises have been inspected and 859 of them were issued with compounds value at RM4,561,500 for failing to abide by the SOPs set.
“Out of the 859 cases, a total of 20 compounds were issued under “Ops Samar” with the value of RM107,000 and from Aug 22 until Aug 27 this year, the compounded offences involved business operators who failed to display the limit of customers allowed into the premises and failure to register using the MySejahtera application when entering a premises,” he said.
On the same note, Shamsul disclosed compliance in the distribution sector is at a satisfactory level with 98.74 per cent of the premises complying with the SOPs, and only 0.08 per cent of the premises were issued with compound notices, while another 1.06 per cent were given a warning.
Despite this, he pointed out that the flexibility given should not be taken lightly, and should not be abused such as by conducting social experiments.
He emphasised the opening of the business and distribution sector is part of the effort to revive and boost the country’s domestic economy.
“It should be noted that the opening of the additional sectors is a form of freedom that allow the businesses and consumers to do as they pleased, but it also required the responsibility from all parties to ensure the country’s economic recovery can achieve its target in line with the health and well-being of the people,” he said.
KPDNHEP also called for cooperation from all parties to report any violation to comply with the SOPs set to the ministry complaint channel through Whatsapp 019-2794317. – DayakDaily
