Putrajaya withdraws amendments to increase fines during pandemic
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THE government will not table the amendments to increase compound fines under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), said Ismail Sabri Yaakob
“This in accordance with the Umno Supreme Council wish that said the fines should not be raised,” said the prime minister during his winding-up speech at the 2021 Umno General Assembly.
He said that he and former prime minister Najib Razak were fined five times during the Johor elections last week.
The amendment bill, which includes increasing the maximum compound on individuals and corporate organisations violating the law, was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last December.
The amendments proposed that the value of the compound be increased from RM1,000 to RM1 million for a corporate body, while for individual offences, a fine of up to RM10,000 could be imposed as compared to the current maximum of RM1,000.
The bill was postponed for further consultation after Pakatan Harapan said it would not support the amendments.
“I want to confirm that this amendment bill to Act 342 will not be tabled. The old act will remain with fines maintained at RM1,000.
“We discussed this in the Umno supreme council and disagreed with increasing the fines. As such, we will not table the bill,” said Ismail Sabri. – March 19, 2022.