JOHOR BAHRU – A total of RM1.13 million in compounds were issued to 109 customers at an entertainment centre for violating the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in a raid in Muar last night.
Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the 81 men and 28 women – all locals aged between 17 and 52 – were arrested at about 10.45 pm.
He said all of them were compounded RM10,000 each for not practising physical distancing while at the premises.
“The police also arrested a 52-year-old man who claimed to be the manager of the entertainment centre, and he was later fined RM50,000 for violating the SOPs set during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
“However, all those detained were not remanded, while the caretaker and workers at the premises had their statements recorded by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Muar police headquarters,” he said, adding that urine tests conducted on all the individuals were found to be negative.
Ayob Khan said checks also found that the premises had been raided twice previously, namely on Feb 26 and March 10, and compounds were also issued, however, the business continued to operate without an entertainment licence.
Meanwhile in Sibu, four individuals were issued RM10,000 fines each for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an operation in Bandar Baru Sibu Jaya here today.
Sibu district police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said that those compounded included a 23-year-old woman who did not wear a face mask and a 53-year-old man, who was the owner of a restaurant, who failed to supervise and control the customers’ movements in and out of his shop.
The other two who were issued compounds were barber shop owners, a 67-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, who did not use disposable gloves and aprons during an inspection at their premises, he said.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said earlier in the week that the RM10,000 compound under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 applies to all categories of Movement Control Order (MCO).
This means that those in MCO, Conditional MCO and Recovery MCO areas could be issued a compound of RM10,000 if they violated the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“But (the public) should understand, the police action (issuing the compound) is based on the Emergency Ordinance and it is for the safety of the public,” he told reporters at the groundbreaking for the One Member One House (SASaR) project at Satria Residensi, Sungai Besi here today.
Ismail Sabri reiterated that the police did not have the power to reduce the amount of compound imposed and those who received the compound notice could make an appeal to the District Health Office.
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