KUALA LUMPUR: The RM1,000 fine imposed on Movement Control Order (MCO) violators will remain despite suggestions that the penalty was too low.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said if the penalty for the offence under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Regulaton 2020 needed to be raised, it should first go through Parliament.
“RM1,000 is indeed too low. A lot of rakyat questioned why it is so little compared to other countries.
"This was also discussed in the meeting (Special Ministerial Committee meeting on MCO) but the law is clear that the compound is RM1,000.
“If we want to amend, it needs to be raised in the Parliament. As of today, it stays at RM1,000,” said Ismail today.
The RM1,000 fine will be imposed against those who flout the MCO, which is an offence under Regulation 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020.
Ismail added that the police, however, can use their discretion to either issue a compound against an offender or haul them to court, where a jail sentence will then be determined.
He added that it is up to the police to use their judgement in handling the cases, adding that the Penal Code could also be used against the offenders.
Ismail said the police had yesterday arrested 1,220 MCO violators, of which 854 individuals were slapped with the RM1,000 compound, 345 were remanded and 21 were given police bail.
The total cumulative arrests of MCO violators from March 18 until yesterday stood at 8,125 individuals while 2,156 compounds have been issued so far.
On a separate matter, Ismail said throughout the MCO, food aid baskets have been distributed to 225,871 households, benefiting close to 1 million family members.
“The process of distribution is still on-going. I believe those who have yet to receive it will get it soon.
“Over at Sungai Lui in Hulu Langat where the Enhance Movement Control Order (Emco) was enforced, 1,000 food aid baskets have been handed over to the 750 families,” he said.