The daughter and son-in-law of Umno president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have pleaded guilty for violating the movement control order (MCO).
Datuk Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Zahid and her husband, Datuk Saiful Nizam Mohd Yusoff, each received a fine of RM800 today (5 May) after the charge was read out to them in court, reported Malay Mail.
Journalists present at the court complex today were barred from covering the proceedings for reasons that are still unknown. Reporters had initially been allowed into the courtroom but were later escorted out to allow remand proceedings to take place. They were barred when they tried to re-enter later.
These charges come after an Instagram posting by Nurul Hidayah made some two weeks ago, where she and her husband were seen meeting with Deputy Environment and Water Minister Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad and de facto Islamic Affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad during MCO without any valid reason.
According to Sinar Harian, netizens claimed that Nurul Hidayah and her husband did not comply with the MCO and seemed to abuse her position as the daughter of a political figure. Although the photo shows that they were practising social distancing, netizens still criticized the act and accused them of being ‘unlawful’.
Nurul Hidayah and her husband were charged under Regulation 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020. The offence carries maximum RM1,000 fine or six-month imprisonment, upon conviction.
This decision was met with a lot of dissatisfaction from netizens, highlighting that many who violated were remanded instead of fined.
What’s your thoughts on it?
Also read: “I Am Ready To Be Charged And Will Apologise” Zahid Hamidi’s Daughter, On Breaking MCO
