KUALA LUMPUR: The annulment of the Emergency Ordinance will see penalties for breaches of Covid-19 regulations and standard operating procedures (SOP) lowered to their original level, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

       "The annulment of the Emergency Ordinance (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendments) 2021 will see the value of the penalties and compounds lowered back to their (previous) value," the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) said when tabling a motion to annual the Emergency Ordinances in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 25).

       The ordinance was gazatted on Feb 25 and came into force on March 11 this year to increase penalties for repeat offenders and those who had been issued stern warnings about flouting Covid-19 SOP.

       It saw fines and compounds going up from a maximum of RM1,000 to a maximum of RM10,000 for individuals who breached SOP.

       For companies or bodies, the fine and compound amount were raised to RM50,000 from the previous maximum of RM10,000.

       The ordinance also made breaches of Covid-19 SOP arrestable offences.

       Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said that the government is expected to table amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Amendments) 2021 in Parliament this December.