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KOTA KINABALU – Local authorities, which penalised an unvaccinated food hawker in Ranau during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2021, have decided to withdraw the fine this month.
The hawker, Naomi @ Neomi Francis, told The Vibes that she had received letter on the withdrawal from the Ranau District Council on March 8 this year.
Naomi said she was fined by the council on December 20, 2021 for refusing to heed the local government’s warning to cease running her food stall until she was vaccinated. She also said she received a warning notice from the local authorities to close down her shop.
However, she decided to bring the matter to court on September 2021 and the case is still being heard.
In September 2021, Naomi was facing a fine of between RM2,000 and RM50,000 for flouting the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
Speaking to The Vibes today, the hawker said that her lawyer had received a letter from the Health Ministry over the cancellation of the compound dated February 17 this year.
She said the ministry noted there had been some technical error in the issuance of the fine.
Naomi said she was fined by the local authorities after opening her stall to host some “old friends” who visited the premises at the Ranau General Market.
“After I was given the warning, I closed the shop. But (the authorities) still came over to handle the paperwork for my other businesses. I was not selling any food (at the time).
“A few of my friends called me up wanting to drop by, so I decided to open. This was when enforcement officers came and decided to impose a fine against me,” she said.
Naomi said she has not opened her stall since but insisted she would not withdraw her judicial review application against the Ranau District Council.
“I would usually make around RM300 to RM600 a day from my business. But I had to close down in 2021,” she said, adding that she is currently engaged in side jobs as a typist and catering services provider. – The Vibes, March 14, 2023
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