Malaysian actor and model, Mustaqim Bahadon, was fined RM1,000 for taking off his face mask while vaping in a public place.
According to Harian Metro, the incident happened at Wangsa Maju on 16 November when he went out of his barber shop to vape and took off his mask.
“In the incident at 5pm, I was a few steps from the front of the shop to vape. I did not want to vape inside because there are customers. I even hung the ‘face mask’ on my waist bag,” he said.
“In less than a minute, four policemen and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers came to me and asked for an identity card. They immediately issued a summons. I asked what was wrong and was told I did not wear a face mask in a public area.”
“I explained why I took off my face, but as informed, it was still a mistake and I violated the SOP because I was in a public place. They said, wrong is still wrong. So, I also admitted my wrong and promised not to repeat it.”
Mustaqim then advised the public to always follow the SOP set by the government and never be complacent even just for a minute, especially when in public.
“Even if I remove it for a while, it is still an offence. I do not want to blame the authorities. Maybe my luck is not good to be caught even though I have been following the SOP,” he said.
“I want to remind everyone not to take this matter lightly because maybe all this time we thought it was not wrong to be alone outside and not to mix, not to gather, but if you are still in public, you are still guilty. Don’t be like me.”
“I also thought, what about other people who eat in restaurants or who smoke under trees but are still in public. So, be careful everyone.”
