PUTRAJAYA wants to amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) as it is outdated, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today amid outcry from politicians and civil rights groups. 

The health director-general said Act 342 has to be amended to be relevant to the present situation, adding that provisions under the Emergency Ordinance were relevant in curbing the spread of Covid-19, the global pandemic that has affected 2.6 million Malaysians. 

“This is an old act, which has been in use for around 32 years now,” Noor Hisham said at a press conference today.

“Based on our experience during the Covid-19 outbreak, we feel that Act 342 has to be improved in order for it to be relevant to the current situation and also to technological enhancement.

“We need these amendments as soon as possible. It will be quite long until the next Parliament session. We will be hampered if there is a spread of new variants like Omicron.”

Noor Hisham said the act should be amended now to ensure continuity in enforcing such standards.

“If this is not passed, then the maximum compound we can issue will be capped at RM1,000.

“So, if there are errant companies not complying to standard operating procedure (SOP), then we only can fine them RM1,000 because this is what the current act permits. So, this has to be changed,” he said. 

The amendments tabled in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today include higher compounds on individuals breaching Covid-19 SOP, from RM1,000 to RM10,000. 

Companies or organisations, meanwhile, can be fined RM1 million under the amendments.

The amendments also propose a new provision, to empower an officer to order an individual infected or believed to be infected with a disease, or any close contact, to wear or use a detection device.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has said the proposed increase to fines and compounds is unnecessary and could lead to more corruption in enforcement.

He said Pakatan Harapan had informed Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob of its decision not to support the bill when it is put to a vote. – December 14, 2021.