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A business in Bera, Pahang has been slapped with a RM50,000 fine for not adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOPs) under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO)
According to New Straits Times, the business is a recreational club in Triang, which held its grand opening on Saturday, 13 March.
Based on a photo of the opening, attendees can be seen standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the premise during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Bera district police chief DSP Mansor Samsudin said that the business also organised a lion dance performance at the premise, which is not permitted under RMCO.
“Upon the police team’s arrival at the premises at 12.30pm, they spotted a huge tent had been set up there,” Mansor revealed
“A lion dance troupe performed while there was no physical distancing among the tables set up under the canopy.”
“The organiser was issued a RM50,000 compound over the failure to ensure physical distancing at the tables. A lion dance performance is not allowed during the RMCO.”
However, according to China Press, when the police arrived at the venue, the lion dance performance was yet to be conducted.
Sin Chew reported that some of the attendees tried to leave the premise after the police arrived, but they were quickly called back.
The recreational club chairman, who is in his 40s, was given the compound and reminded to adhere to the SOPs
Mansor said the police invoked the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 to issue the RM50,000 compound.
On 25 February, the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 was amended to increase the fine for MCO violations from RM1,000 to RM10,000 for individuals, while companies can be fined up to RM50,000.
The new rate came into effect on 11 March.
Even though the compound tickets state the maximum fine, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that anyone who has been slapped with the hefty compound can make an appeal to the district health office (PKD).
“When you go to pay the compound, make the appeal. I believe district health officers will definitely give a reduction,” Ismail said on 12 March, adding that police are not responsible for handling the appeal.
He explained that the maximum compound is only aimed at repeat offenders and extreme violators of the SOPs, reported Bernama.