KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) is currently drafting higher penalties for compoundable offences under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
In his press briefing today, Ismail said if the proposal is passed, it will likely be announced by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law affairs as the matter falls under the purview of the Emergency Ordinance.
“I was made to understand that the Attorney General is in the process to prepare the proposal draft seeking higher fines and penalties in the courts if found guilty.
The Ministry of Health had previously proposed for higher fines under the Act from the current RM1,000 to RM10,000.
The draft amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) have been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said on January 31.
According to Dr Noor Hisham, Act 342 was gazetted in 1988 when the maximum penalty for the compoundable offence was set at RM1,000 and needs to be updated as times have changed.
A day earlier, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said thousands of compound notices have been issued to those in breach of the Covid-19 regulations — mostly for failure to maintain a one-metre physical distance — but indicated that the current penalties under the law did not seem to be sufficient deterrent.
