Starting today (that’s 1st August 2020, if you weren’t keeping track), the federal government has mandated that those who are seen in public spaces without any face masks on are liable of facing a RM1,000 fine for the offence. And given the current circumstances with rising domestic Covid-19 cases lately, the measure is a truly necessary one in our renewed efforts to curb the possibility of a second-wave.
But for a group of 20 individuals who were seen lepak-ing at the Bagan Ajam Rest & Relax stop, the newly enforced law may just take a little longer to get accustomed to than initially thought. At 1.50am this morning, local authorities had detained members of the small gathering after they were seen together without any face masks on.
This will likely mean that these individuals bear the dubious honour of becoming among the first, if not the first people to be slapped with the RM1,000 fine for not wearing their face masks.
North Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Noorzainy Mohd Noor said that not only were these individuals seen without face masks on, they had also not complied with social distancing measures that have been set in place since the beginning of the Recovery Movement Control Order period.
“They were all issued with an RM1,000 compound for failing to observe physical distancing and for not wearing masks under Rule 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations,” he told members of the media.
Separately, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri has gone on to point out that as many as 134 individuals have been arrested for flouting MCO regulations, with one individual who breached home quarantine measures.
So fellow Malaysians, if you don’t wish for another MCO, please do make sure you adhere to the current SOPs and wear your face mask at all times! The wellbeing of our nation is at stake!
Also read: Here’s Everything That’s Happening in August! RMCO Policies to Deadlines You Need To Know