Sin Chew Daily

Under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 gazetted recently, any violator of MCO SOPs could be fined up to RM10,000.

From RM1,000 to RM10,000, the margin of increase is indeed jaw-dropping.

Although the ordinance has yet to go into effect, it has already drawn tremendous backlash among the people.

The significantly higher fine is believed to be enacted to make sure the public comply with the SOPs.

No doubt, many recalcitrant people reluctant to abide by the SOPs during the MCO have been slapped with fines, but excessive fining could also give rise to a whole range of controversies and issues.

First and foremost, RM10,000 fine is way too heavy for ordinary people, especially at a time of sluggish economy when many have to struggle just to make ends meet. Some even have to dig into their EPF savings to stay alive.

Under such circumstances, it is unreasonable to increase the fine to RM10,000!

A Bank Negara study reveals that 75% of Malaysians have less than RM1,000 savings. If they can't even come up with RM1,000, how are they going to settle the RM10,000 fine?

Any penalty meted out must be reasonable. Given Malaysians' average income and financial status, it is indeed too demanding to fine an SOP violator RM10,000.

Additionally, the maximum fine for corporate violators is RM50,000. But once again, some companies are massive conglomerates while others are tiny outfits staffed by only a couple of people. To the former, RM50,000 is kacang putih, but to the latter, it could be a taxing burden.

Secondly, inconsistent enforcement and variable definitions have given rise to more confusion.

For instance, a 17-year-old high school student was giving his three classmates a lift, but the four of them were later slapped with a fine of RM1,000 each for traveling together in a vehicle with people not from the same household.

Senior minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri later clarified that people riding in the same vehicle are not subjected to the "same household" rule.

Several days ago, a man in Jinjang took his mother to visit his grandmother staying just 5km away. Unfortunately at a police roadblock, he was fined RM1,000 for traveling across the border into Selangor.

As a matter of fact, many people have no idea exactly where a district or state border is. Many commuting between KL and Selangor each day may not even be aware that they have habitually crossed the state border. It will be too drastic if they are eventually fined RM10,000 for an unintended violation.

Perhaps the government can consider imposing incremental fines to penalize repeat violators instead of a sweeping penalty for everyone. And before a heavier penalty is imposed, the government must first ensure enforcement consistency and crystal clear directives in a bid to avoid public confusion or double standards in enforcement.