KUALA LUMPUR: Absolute power vested in the hands of the health director-general to issue compound notices on SOP violators is dangerous and can lead to abuse of power, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) said the government should form a council instead to decide on the types of compounds and penalties to be dished out to offenders.
Debating the royal address, he suggested that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) be amended to avoid the power to issue such penalties to be concentrated in the hands of one person.
“The Act gives the absolute power to the health director-general to issue the summonses without referring to anyone, and this is dangerous since it can lead to abuse of power.
“It is better if a council is formed and given the power to decide on the types of compounds and penalties to be dished out to offenders,” he said.
Fadhli was referring to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2021 which was tabled for its first reading last year. It will be tabled later this week for a second reading.
Touching on the details of the bill, he said the proposed increase in the maximum fines was too excessive and would burden the people.
“The maximum seven years’ imprisonment proposed for infringing SOPs is equivalent to the punishment given to offenders under Act 325 (inflicting serious injuries), Section 363 (kidnapping), Section 306 (criminal intimidation), Section 379 (theft), and Section 393 (attempt to steal).
“I know that infringing the SOPs is an offence but do we have to punish the people to this extent?” he said.
He said the amendments should be reviewed to avoid burdening the people.
Under the bill, an individual can also be compounded up to RM10,000, compared with RM1,000 now, while business entities can be compounded a maximum of RM1 million. - FMT
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