KUALA LUMPUR: The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) only provides a maximum compound of RM1,000 against those who breach regulations and Home Surveillance Order (HSO).
With regard to the compound issued against Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, however, also said the police was probing the former's alleged breach of standard operating procedures, including breaking home quarantine.
"Under Act 342, the maximum compound for those who breached the guidelines and home surveillance order is RM1,000.
"Having said that, the police is probing the matter after a report was lodged," Dr Noor Hisham said on his official Twitter account today.
He was responding to Twitter users who asked why Mohd Khairuddin was only slapped with a RM1,000 compound for breaking home quarantine upon his return from Turkey on July 7.
Netizens also drew a comparison between the case involving the Kuala Nerus member of parliament and that of a senior citizen who flouted the HSO when she was spotted wearing a pink quarantine wristband in public.
Bernama reported that Nur Emah Mohamad Hashim was sentenced to a day's jail and fined RM8,000, in default of six months' jail, by the Magistrate's Court in Ipoh, Perak on Aug 4 for the offence.
She was charged with committing the offence at a restaurant at Lengkok Meru Permai 1, Halaman Meru Permai, at about 8am on July 6.
Nur Emah was charged under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 for disobeying an order under Section 15 (1) of the same law, which provides for imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, on July 21, the Perak Health Department received a complaint regarding a viral image of a woman wearing a wristband issued to persons under investigation or under home quarantine, at a location other than her home.
An investigation was then conducted by the Kinta District Health Office, which found that Nur Emah, who had just returned from the United Kingdom, was under observation and placed under home quarantine from July 4 to 18.
It was reported, the Health Ministry through an authorised officer had issued a compound amounting RM1,000 to Khairuddin on Aug 7 and that the minister has paid the amount.
Khairuddin was previously alleged to have violated his compulsory isolation period after returning from Turkey, having been present during Dewan Rakyat proceedings during the supposed 14-day quarantine period.
Khairuddin's alleged quarantine violation became a hot topic in Dewan Rakyat and created a social media storm.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok claimed that the minister had been on an unofficial visit to Turkey from July 3 to 7, but had attended Parliament only a week later.