By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 13: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) has been slapped with a RM20,000 compound for standard operating procedure (SOP) violations committed on Dec 3, 2021.
According to Sarawak Commissioner of Police Datuk Aidi Ismail, the compound was issued due to a lack of social distancing among the party members while making preparations for the Writ Presenting Ceremony (to be held on Dec 8) on Dec 3. The compound was issued on Dec 7, while police report was made on Dec 8 at 10.40am.
He said this was the highest compound issued since nomination day.
At 5.07pm on Dec 8, another compound of RM4,000 was issued to an operations room at N16 Muara Tuang for the same offence of violating the SOPS.
Following the two cases on Dec 8, there were two more similar cases on Dec 10 but both cases took place outside Kuching.
The first case happened in Spaoh at 1.24pm, involving Parti Keadilan Rakyat N37 Bukit Saban candidate Mikail Mathew Abdullah who was compounded RM1,000 for SOP violations.
That evening at 9pm at Thomas Lamit longhouse of Saratok, another RM1,000 compound was issued for failure to keep social distancing.
Yesterday at 9.56am, Gabungan Parti Sarawak members at the GPS N49 Ngemah operations room in Kanowit was penalised and fined RM1,000 for hand-shaking, close contact and failure to keep social distancing,
Aidi explained there was a big difference in the penalty amount because on Dec 9, the amendment to the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) Ordinance 2021 which was passed in Parliament had taken effect.
Following that, the fine of RM10,000 for individuals and RM50,000 fine for establishments found violating the Covid-19 SOP were no longer in effect, where each offence under Act 342 will revert to a maximum of RM1,000. — DayakDaily
