KUALA LUMPUR – The proposed amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) at their current state are beyond consideration, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) top leaders in their outright rejection of them.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the government’s proposal to increase compounds for offences committed under the act appear to pin the blame on the rakyat for any spike in Covid-19 infections.
He said such a move is completely unreasonable, as any effort to curb the spread of the virus should be based on prevention and mitigation, not solely on punishment.
“At the end of the day, this will only burden the rakyat and will not solve any problem,” he said in a video uploaded on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook page today.
“If the pandemic cannot be contained, it is not the rakyat’s fault, but the fault of a defective and weak administration. I see this move (amendments) as a way to blame the rakyat.
“Stop burdening the rakyat, stop piling more suffering on them. What is important, is to have leadership by example.”
Earlier today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun announced that the sitting, which was supposed to end today, has been extended for another day to allow for the Act 342 amendments to be deliberated among the government and the opposition.
The matter will now be discussed in the parliamentary select committee at 8am on Monday, before Parliament reconvenes for the final day at 10am.
The bill was supposed to be tabled and voted on today, but faced tough opposition from various quarters protesting stiff penalties for those who violate government standard operating procedures (SOPs).
In the proposed amendments, individuals flouting SOPs will be subject to a maximum compound of RM10,000, while companies face an up to RM500,000 compound.
Presently, both individuals and corporate entities are subjected to a maximum compound of RM1,000.
For other offences with penalties not expressly provided under the act and where the case is brought to court, the amendments proposed a maximum fine of RM50,000 and three years’ prison for individuals, and RM2 million for corporates.
Anwar – who is also PKR president – said the main issue with the current bill involves the proposed compound increment to RM10,000 for individuals, which he described as totally unacceptable.
He said the increased penalty for corporates must also be explained by the government, as the current definition is too broad and may even include associations, organisations, and parties.
“If both the government and the opposition can come to an agreement, then the bill can be passed. But if the primary factors can’t be agreed (upon), then PH will be forced to reject the bill,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said his biggest concern is whether the government can ensure fair enforcement of the law, if the amendments with heftier punishments are passed.
“I truly doubt the implementation of the law, especially with the proposed changes to the act. I doubt they will enforce it fairly,” he said. – The Vibes, December 16, 2021
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