MELAKA – Police acted within the provisions of the emergency ordinance when they issued a RM10,000 compound to a teenager here for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs), said state deputy police chief Datuk Shahrul Lalli Masduki.
He said no one should manipulate the issue and insinuate that police acted harshly against the 17-year-old schoolboy.
“SOPs to curb the spread of Covid-19 have been disseminated widely to the public – young and old – through mass media and other forms of communication.
“So, it isn’t fair to blame police, and claim that we are cruel and intolerant because we take action based on set SOPs.
“There is no excuse for individuals to claim ignorance if they are issued compounds.”
He was commenting on a news report about a Form 5 student who was fined for failing to register his details before entering a grocery shop to purchase paracetamol for his mother in Batu Berendam on Sunday.
He said 21 individuals, aged 17 to 53, in the state were slapped with a RM10,000 compound each for various types of SOP violations between March 12 and yesterday.
“About 40% of them were issued compounds for not wearing face masks, 30% for not scanning the MySejahtera app or registering personal details, and 30% for other violations, including not practising physical distancing.” – Bernama, March 17, 2021
