PAKATAN Harapan will oppose the government’s amendment bill to increase fines to RM10,000 for individuals breaching Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), Anwar Ibrahim said.

“After scrutinising the bill and listening to the MPs’ feedback, the opposition has decided not to support the government’s amendment bill (to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act or Act 342),” said the Opposition Leader in a statement today.

“I have conveyed our decision to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.”

He said the opposition found the bill to increase fines and compounds to be unnecessary.

“This will also open up the space for abuse, corruption and the practice of double standards when enforcing the law,” he said.

Earlier today, the government tabled an amendment bill to increase the maximum compound to RM10,000 from RM1,000 for individual offenders.

The amendments to Act 342 also include imposing a compound of up to RM1 million on errant corporate organisations.

The bill also has a new provision under section 15A, which empowers 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.

Previously, under the Emergency Ordinance (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) 2021, individuals violating the SOP can be slapped with a compound of up to RM1,000 while for a company or organisation, the penalty is up to RM50,000.

In line with the expiry of the emergency proclamation on August 1, the emergency ordinance was annulled on October 25. – December 14, 2021.