KUALA LUMPUR: The RM1,000 fine imposed on those who violate standard operating procedures under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 or Act 342 is ineffective, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       Bernama reported him as saying that the maximum fine imposed was not proportionate to the offence committed by certain organisers or companies in complying with the required standard operating procedure.

       “Personally, I feel with the flexibility given and restriction relaxation that will be announced after this, several companies will be entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that the SOP is adhered to.

       “In the economic context, the existing fines are ineffective and do not serve as a deterrent because the companies make billions in returns so RM1,000 is too small an amount and is inadequate.

       Meet the press: Hishammuddin speaking at the press conference in conjunction with the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting at the Parliament. — Bernama

       “As such, we need to table it again in Parliament,” he told a press conference after chairing the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet Meeting in Parliament yesterday.

       Hishammuddin reminded organisers and companies that have been granted the permission to hold an event, to keep to their word in ensuring that the SOP is complied with, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

       Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali tabled the bill to amend Act 342 for first reading in Parliament yesterday, to allow individual offenders to be compounded up to RM10,000 instead of the current RM1,000.

       According to the blue Bill, the amendment under Section 25 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2021 also proposed that errant companies be compounded up to a maximum of RM1mil.