PETALING JAYA: DAP will not support the amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) which would increase the fines for Covid-19 offences.

       The party said the decision was made even though the revised Bill, which will be tabled in Parliament in March, will maintain the maximum fine for individuals at RM1,000 and also halve the maximum compound for companies to RM500,000.

       “Individuals and companies have suffered enough and should not be burdened under the current economic situation with heavier fines subject to the discretion of the government,” DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in a statement Thursday (Jan 13).

       At present, all compound fines issued under Act 342 are capped at RM1,000.

       Lim pointed out that Pakatan Harapan had earlier decided not to support Act 342 because of the “controversial” increase in fines and had proposed that companies that defy Covid-19 standard operating procedures be closed down instead.