KUALA LUMPUR: The government has decided not to table the amendment to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) which sought heftier fines against offenders.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the RM1,000 fine against those found flouting the Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOP) under the current Act stays.
Ismail Sabri, who is Umno vice-president, said this when delivering his winding up speech at the 2021 Umno general assembly here today.
"One of the delegates (when debating the motion of the Umno president's policy address) raised concerns on the proposed amendments to Act 342 which sought to increase the fine to RM100,000 against individuals and RM500,000 against companies (which flout the Covid-19 SOP).
"I want to state here that the amendment to the Act will not be tabled (in the Dewan Rakyat sitting)," he said.
Ismail Sabri added that he took into account the views from the Umno Supreme Council, which was not in favour of the amendment to the Act.
"During my trip to Johor Baru recently, I was slapped with fines five times.
"I learned that 'Bossku' (Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Razak) also received the same amount of fines.
"I would have to pay RM500,000 (if the amendment to the Act was tabled and passed). I can't afford to pay such an amount. Maybe I'd have been inside (jailed for failing to pay the fine) today," he said.