KOTA BARU – The draft amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) have been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said amendments must be made to Act 342, including the maximum compound of RM1,000 and below, in accordance with current needs. The Act was gazetted in 1988.
“Now, we will use the emergency ordinance to make the amendments,” he told reporters here today.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador reportedly said that the time has come for the compound for flouting standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the movement control order to be increased, following the spike in Covid-19 cases in this country.
He said each week, thousands of compound notices are issued to individuals who flout the SOPs, mostly the rule of physical distancing.
Asked on Islamic or traditional medicine as an alternative method to treat Covid-19, Dr Noor Hisham said there must be strong studies done and proof of their efficacy.
“Likewise, the use of vaccines will require three phases of clinical trials before we are able to see their side effects and effectiveness. It is the same with traditional medicine, we have to conduct studies first for proof of its efficacy.”
He was responding to a statement by Kelantan Local Government and Health Committee deputy exco Hilmi Abdullah, who is also a DarusSalam Malaysia practitioner, on January 26, suggesting that the government consider Islamic methods as an alternative treatment for Covid-19. – Bernama, January 31, 2021
