MANY recipients of the RM10,000 fine for breaching Covid-19 rules are working class folk who cannot afford to pay, said the legal aid bureaus of the opposition.

PKR, DAP and Amanah are offering assistance to this group of people those who have been fined under Section 25 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

DAP and Amanah’s services are available nationwide while PKR’s is limited to Johor.

Johor PKR deputy chief Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said while he understands the need to educate people on the need to comply with the rules, the RM10,000 fine for infringement is too heavy, especially at a time when  many people are struggling to make ends meet.

Puah said he has received 35 requests for legal aid. 

Puah said even those who were fined RM1,000 were going to him for help.

“Those who’ve asked for help are in the B40 and M40 groups. They are mostly blue collar workers and I’ve also received requests from disabled people,” Puah said.

He cited a case of a man who was fined RM1,000 for not wearing a mask while buying goreng pisang from his neighbour next door.

Puah said he expects his phone to keep ringing with requests for help.

He said applicants for aid are interviewed to determine if their appeals are legitimate.

“We want to help bona fide cases of people who are suffering, not people who have openly flouted the law.

“We have to look at the circumstances and we have to interview them. Our resources are limited and we have to prioritise.”

Once the authencity of the applicant’s case has been established, Puah’s team will help the person to appeal to the authorities.

“We can help them write to the Ministry of Health or to the Attorney-General’s Chamber to ask them to reduce or drop the compound, to help them appeal essentially,” he clarified.

In the event the appeal fails, Puah said he would take the matter to court.

“If they are still told to pay the full amount, we will advise them to go to court and we’ll help them pro bono.

“The punishment does not fit the crime, RM10,000 is a lot of money. This is something the court has to consider.”

DAP legal bureau secretary Michelle Ng said seven people have requested for help with their fines.

“So far we have seven recorded cases in KL, Selangor and Perak. Five were fined RM10,000 and two were fined RM1,000.

“The requests came through the hotline, Google form and some approached their ADUN or MP’s office,” Ng said.

The Subang Jaya assemblyman said the seven were fined for not wearing a mask, failure to use the MySejahtera app, and crossing state lines without police permission.

The offenders were blue collar workers and and poor-income earners.

She said the seven people would be interviewed to ascertain if they had a legitimate case,.

“After we’ve received the cases, we will channel them to the respective state teams and they will contact the complainer to interview them further.”:

DAP has 37 lawyers helping those who have been fined to appeal to the MOH.

“We will write to MOH and wait for a response. If they can cancel the fine, that will be even better, failing which we will advise the client whether to pay the fine or proceed to court. We have to advise them based on the strength of the case.

“If they decide to go to court, we will be prepared to represent them. At this point, we will also try to appeal to the DPP,” Ng said.

Amanah’s legal bureau secretary Marwan Abdullah said about 10 people have asked for help because they are not able to afford the fine.

“Since we posted the offer of legal aid on Facebook on Tuesday, we have received around 10 calls for help, and we are expecting more in the next few days,” Marwan said.

Marwan said a majority of them were fined for not using the MySejahtera app to check in.

The rest were fined for not wearing a mask or for not wearing it correctly.

Beginning March 11, the federal government enforced the RM10,000 penalty for SOP violations. The amount is a tenfold increase from the previous maximum compound of RM1,000.

Last week, the police revealed that 300 people had been fined RM10,000 since the penalty came into force.

The government subsequently announced a 50% discount on the fine if it is paid within seven days of its issuance.

The government will also consider reducing the fines issued to students, the disabled and those with chronic illnesses on appeal.

Patrons of nightclubs and pubs will be subject to the maximum fine while the owners will be fined RM50,000. – March 18, 2021.