PM on SOP breach: Some got away due to lack of enforcers, but no double standards

 

The government will not be able to deploy enough enforcement officers to ensure all 30 million Malaysians abide by Covid-19 prevention procedures, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Responding to claims of alleged double standards, Muhyiddin insisted no one is spared from the procedures, but there could be those who got away in absence of enforcement officers.

“Our government policies don't have any double standards.

“Ministers, prime minister, anyone who flouted the law and there is clear evidence, they will not get away from being punished, fined or others.

“That is the fact. But on the surface people will still see ‘why wasn't the person arrested?’

“The SOP applies to all 30 million Malaysians [...] So I would like to ask, can I take care of all 30 million people?” Muhyiddin said in a joint interview with Bernama TV and RTM tonight.

“I can't be expected to deploy 100,000 enforcement officers to take care of 30 million people.

“That would be impossible. And that is also why self-lockdown is important,” he said.

Muhyiddin also maintained that the changing nature of the Covid-19 virus had contributed to the changing SOPs, which on occasions had led to confusion among the public.

The issue of alleged double standards in enforcement of Covid-19 prevention procedures was widely debated during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations after several local celebrities and at least one minister posted photographs of their family gatherings, going against SOPs under the conditional movement control order.

Prior to that, local celebrity and entrepreneur Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor and her husband, Muhammad Haris Mohd Ismail, came under the spotlight for alleged repeated breach of SOPs, including at the Seremban Court Complex where they were charged on Thursday. 

Kelantan Health authorities, meanwhile, made headlines last month for three RM50,000 compounds issued against small traders over breach of Covid-19 procedures.

All three traders however filed an appeal and the amount was today reduced to RM2,000 each. - Mkini