RM 10,000 fine for violating of SOP too extreme, says Sebastian Ting

suppadmin | March 14, 2021

SUPP is in full support of the announcement by our Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the Chairman of Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, that Sarawak is mulling whether to follow Federal Government on this increased of fines. Indeed, our Sarawak Government should seek exemption of imposition of such fines in Sarawak, said SUPP Secretary General, Datuk Sebastian Ting.

He said SUPP is of the opinion that the fines up to RM 10,000 on individuals and up to RM 50,000 on companies for flouting the MCO, CMCO, EMCO and RMCO standard operating procedure (SOP) which started on March 11 are worrying, heavy, punitive in nature and too excessive

“The feedbacks we received from the ground are that the people are very unhappy and upset with the announcement made by Federal Government.Most Sarawakians felt that the Federal Government should guide them through these difficult and challenging times instead of increasing hefty fines for non compliance of SOPs, sometimes unintentionally, such as forgetting to wear a face mask while coming out of the car.Most people are of the opinion and SUPP agrees with them that it is most unfair and harsh for people who forgot to register into MySejahtera application when entering a premise to be fined up to RM 10,000 when compare to other offenses such as failing to put on seat belt which is a RM 120 fine and driving offences is RM 300 fine only, ” he said.

Ting added that the RM 10,000 fine on individual is excessive to everyone especially to the middle and lower income group. There are many who are earning monthly minimal wage of RM 1,200 and to them to be hit with previous RM 1,000 fine is already the last straw for them. What more to say RM 10,000 each. Federal Government should not assume one size fits all punishment in guiding the people to follow the SOPs.

While we understand and appreciate that the Federal Government is trying their best to flatten and prevent further spread of COVID-19 pandemic which has been raging Malaysia with thousands of positive cases for the last few months, he said, to fine an individual of RM 10,000 will only bring more hardship, furore and anger to the person rather than guiding him or her to follow the SOPs.

“We are with the people and SUPP has formed a legal team throughout Sarawak, led by Michael Tiang, SUPP Youth Central Chairman with the objective of assisting those who have received such summons to determine whether those summons were correctly issued and if so, will help to appeal for a reduction in fine or at last resort, where necessary to challenge such summons and represent them in court.

The Inspector General of Police mentioned that even though the amount of RM 10,000 had been written on the summons, the final amount will be decided by the district health officer. According to him, people can still present and appeal their case to the health officers for appropriate reduction.

With such announcements by The Inspector General of Police, we are looking forward to working closely with the Police and the Health Officers in all the Divisions throughout Sarawak, he said and called to Sarawakians to register for covid vaccine.