PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional will not be appealing against the RM10,000 compound notice and will pay the full amount that it was slapped with, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“We will pay the compound. (There is) no need to appeal against it.
“We abide by the government’s decision although the event was held in Kuala Lumpur which is in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan where gatherings are allowed,” said the Barisan chairman when contacted.
Barisan was slapped with the compound notice for organising a mass gathering at the World Trade Centre that violated Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
The Health Ministry posted a photo of the compound notice on Facebook yesterday, which showed it being addressed to Barisan’s executive secretary for violating the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Barisan had allegedly breached SOP during the launch of its Melaka election machinery, which saw many of its members present in the building, including the coalition’s top leadership.
Meanwhile, the coalition secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the launching of the election machinery was in adherence with Covid-19 SOP.
Zambry said the event was supposed to take place in Melaka but was moved to WTC as the Health Ministry had advised against mass gatherings in the state.On Oct 24, the ministry had issued a ban on political gatherings in Melaka from Oct 25 to Nov 27.
Meanwhile, the youth-based Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) would pay the RM4,000 fine it was slapped with over the same offence.
Its pro-tem secretary-general Amira Aisya Abd Aziz said challenging it would cause more time and money that the fledgling party did not have.
She said the decision was made after consulting with their lawyers.
“We will make the payment within seven days,” she said when contacted yesterday.
On Wednesday, Melaka police issued the compound to the party for holding what they called a gathering that made it impossible for physical distancing.