KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry has served Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Melaka Umno chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh with an RM10,000 fine each for breaching standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of Covid-19.
The ministry, in a statement carried by the New Straits Times, said the two Umno leaders were slapped with the fines after it opened a probe into a video that went viral recently.
It said the incident had occurred in Masjid Tanah on November 19, adding that the compounds were issued over house visits and failure to wear face masks during the Melaka election.
“The investigation by the Health Ministry found a violation of SOP during the Melaka election involving the two individuals,” the ministry said.
The ministry said Zahid and Rauf were fined under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (National Recovery Plan) Regulations 2021.
The ministry also said it had issued the SOP on November 7 for all quarters to be informed of the matter and comply with the rules.
On October 27, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin barred all activities, gatherings, or social events related to the Melaka polls until November 27.
Khairy said due to the high risk of Covid-19 transmission, especially with the presence of the Delta variant, activities such as those would increase the prevalence of the virus in the community.
However, just a day after Khairy’s directive, Barisan Nasional (BN) was hit with a RM10,000 fine over a mass gathering organised by the coalition at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The fine came mere hours after opposition members slammed BN over the breach of SOPs during the launch of the Melaka BN election machinery. – The Vibes, November 21, 2021
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