JOHOR BARU: The authorities should be more professional when dealing with Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) matters, says an MCA spokesman.

       Mike Chong Yew Chuan said the incident where a reporter was slapped with a RM1,000 compound notice by the Health Ministry for allegedly flouting SOP should not have happened as he was only doing his job.

       “The reporter did not do anything seriously bad and merely approached a Johor election candidate to ask for his details.

       “After that incident, many have also expressed their concerns to me as the compound notice is a burden and should not have been issued,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 26).

       He urged the relevant authorities to come up with a clear SOP guideline to avoid a repeat of the incident in future.

       “I am sure the authorities do not want to be seen as unfair or biased.

       “At political events, there were bound to be those who flouted the SOP so why are these people not issued compound notice yet a reporter, who was doing his job, was compounded?

       “It is unfair and illogical,” he added.

       Chong said in a democratic country, the media plays an important role in disseminating correct information to reflect the real picture on the ground and they should be allowed to perform their duties without hindrance.

       He said starting March 1, the ministry’s SOP would also be relaxed where close contacts who received their booster shots need not undergo quarantine if they display no symptoms.

       “This shows that the nation is on the road to recovery so the incident cannot be accepted by many,” he added.

       It was reported that a Sin Chew Daily journalist who was covering the nomination process at Dewan JKR, Johor Baru, which was a nomination centre for the Larkin state seat, was slapped with a RM1,000 compound notice on Saturday morning.

       Meanwhile, Malaysia Gazette video editor Khairulanuar Yahaya was given a final warning for allegedly flouting the Covid-19 SOP at the same place.