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KUALA LUMPUR – Police have clarified that they will continue issuing fines to those caught not wearing face masks in places that require the use of one, denying reports that the policy is being dropped.
Bukit Aman management director Datuk Zaini Jass told The Vibes that the police force’s position on issuing such fines and offering compounds to those caught without a mask remains the same as before.
This is after several reports quoted an internal circular sent by Zaini’s deputy Azmi Adam which claimed that police would stop issuing fines to those caught without a face mask in public places and instead offer advice for them to don their masks.
“That letter was wrong, it contained some technical error, and we have since retracted it from our internal system.
“So we will continue issuing summons to those not wearing masks. It will remain as status quo,” Zaini said when contacted.
The retracted circular in question, sighted by The Vibes, was issued by Azmi on April 20 to senior officers within the police force to inform them of new Covid-19 standard operating procedures following the country’s transition into endemicity.
Azmi’s letter informed officers of their responsibility to continue monitoring Ramadan bazaars to ensure physical distancing is practised. It added that there would be no more fines issued to those found without a face mask.
“We retracted it the moment we realised the error. So maybe the one you sighted was a copy from someone who managed to capture it and share it before it was taken down,” Zaini said.
The circular by Azmi also suggested that respective state police contingents utilise their drone surveillance units to monitor the situation on the ground. It reminded officers to pass on the latest instructions to their respective senior and rank-and file-officers.
When queried on the matter, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah briefly said any such announcements would be made by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. – The Vibes, April 21, 2022.
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