Soft approach ineffective, so Labuan cops get tough

 

Police are now strict with those ignoring SOPs in place to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. (Bernama pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Labuan police issued fines totalling RM32,000 to 16 people today.

They included guests at a birthday party.

Labuan police chief Ahmad Jawila said the 16 people, aged between 18 and 48, had breached conditional movement control order (CMCO) rules.

Ahmad said one person was fined RM5,000 for not having a permit to cross districts while two others were fined RM2,000 each for picnicking at a beach.

“Seven people were fined RM2,000 as they were not practicing physical distancing at a birthday party,” he said in a statement.

Three others were fined RM1,500 each for the same violation at other locations while three were fined a similar amount each for not scanning the QR code on their MySejahtera app.

Ahmad said police had taken strict action against offenders to help flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections on the island.

“We had taken a softer approach during the initial implementation of the CMCO on May 12 by only advising offenders but we now have to be strict as many seem to be ignoring the rules,” he said.