An enforcement officer who fined a petty trader faces a fine

 

An enforcement officer who fined a petty trader in Kelantan for not possessing a licence is now himself facing the possibility of a fine.

This was after the Pasir Mas Municipal Council enforcement officer failed to wear a face mask when issuing the fine, in violation of the standard operating procedures against Covid-19.

Pasir Mas District police headquarters chief Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir confirmed that the enforcement officer is now under police investigation.

The matter came to police attention after a photograph of the enforcement officer issuing a fine (photo, above) while not wearing a face mask went viral on social media. A report was lodged based on the photograph.

"The photograph, which showed the officer conducting his duty without a face mask, had caused dissatisfaction in the local community.

"The suspect is an enforcement officer with the Pasir Mas Municipal Council had was issuing compounds on petty traders who weren't supposed to operate near Masjid Beijing in Rantau Panjang," Nasaruddin told Malaysiakini.

Nasarauddin said the police were tracking down the enforcement officer for further investigation.

Yesterday, a Facebook user by the name of Muhammad Firdaus uploaded a photograph of him being fined for operating a roadside stall, despite not being issued a permit to do so.

However, Muhammad also noted that the enforcement officer who fined him was also in violation of the law by not wearing a face mask.

The photograph subsequently went viral on social media.

First-time offenders who do not wear a face mask while out in public face a fine of RM1,500. - Mkini