SHAH ALAM: Minister or not, there will be no double standard in punishing those who flout Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP), says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       “You can be a minister, a deputy minister, head of department or whoever. Whoever commits a wrong or flouts the SOP, will be compounded including the Defence Minister,” said the Prime Minister.

       He was speaking to reporters after launching the main findings of the Malaysia Census Report 2020 themed “Your Data, Our Future” yesterday.

       “What is important is that action will be taken and this means that the government does not differentiate between individuals who commit violations,” he said.

       He was asked to comment on orders by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin for compound to be issued against Barisan Nasional treasurer Datuk Seri Hisham-muddin Hussein for breaching SOP at a recent event in Johor.

       Apart from Hishammuddin, others to be compounded included Johor Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad, MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and other leaders who attended the launching of the MIC Johor Brigade at EduCity Kota Iskandar on Sunday.

       Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri brushed aside calls by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh for Hishammuddin to resign for flouting the SOP.

       The Prime Minister noted that flouting of the SOP was not a criminal act which warranted such drastic action.

       “It’s not a crime. A compound has been issued by the Health Ministry.

       “Many government officers have violated the SOP and do they have to hand in their resignation?”

       He said there would be no one left to manage the country if all those who flout the SOP were forced to resign.