SIBU, Feb 26: Most people will not be able to afford to pay the RM10,000 fine if they are caught beaching the Movement Control Order (MCO).
According to the e-Federal Gazette, the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which was published on the Federal Gazette website on Feb 25, the fine of up to RM10,000 would come into operation on March 11, 2021.
In a public poll, residents here felt the intention was good. However they opined that violators might end up serving the default jail sentence as they are too poor to pay.
A shipping executive, who gave his name as Tay, described the RM10,000 fine as “ridiculous.”
“On one side I agreed but on the other hand I viewed this as ridiculous,” he opined.
Tay said if he was fined for that amount, he would need to pay them by installments.
A fitness instructor, Lau Kah Yii also concurred with Tay.
“How many people can pay? RM1,000 maybe but RM10,000 is certainly very difficult for most people,” he said.
Lau said as most violators are salaried workers, they would have to borrow money to pay for the fine.
“Sometimes violators of MCO are not to be blamed as circumstances make them not following the SOP. Take for example at banks where customers are not able to observe physical distancing due to the big crowd,” he said.
A cafe operator, Tang said those who are unable to pay the fine, would have no choice but to go for jail sentence. — DayakDaily
