RM1k fine on glove factory a slap on the wrist, say community leaders

PETALING JAYA: The RM1,000 fine imposed against a glove factory in Klang for flouting standard operating procedure (SOP) imposed to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission has sparked public outcry.

Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Datuk Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said it reflected the glaring disparity between fines imposed against members of the public and against corporate players.

"How can it serve as a deterrent if the rich corporate offenders are let off the hook with a mere slap on the wrist?

"Even ordinary men on the street were reportedly fined much more than that for breaching the SOP," he said.

The Port Klang Labour Department and the Klang Health Department had recently found that there were no records of disinfection activities and sanitisation processes at the factory.

Ridzuan said factory operators should be taken to task if they failed to implement measures to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission among their workers.

"This is a serious matter concerning public health. Hefty fines should be imposed to serve as a deterrent," he said.

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah also concurred that ordinary people were fined up to RM8,000 for flouting SOP, but the factory in Klang was only slapped with a meagre RM1,000 fine.

She also noted the disparity in action taken against different factories for a similar offence.

A glove manufacturer in Kajang was forced to shut down operations for seven days after the authorities found out that their 781 foreign workers were staying in two blocks of containers stacked three-storey high.

She said the factory operator violated the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act.

Top Glove was hauled to court after it recorded one of Malaysia’s biggest Covid-19 cluster, with 5,147 of its workers in Klang testing positive for Covid-19 earlier this month.

"Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd was ordered to shut down on Dec 21 after an additional 563 workers tested positive just days after 427 workers had tested positive.

"(Therefore) it is shocking that the authorities had only penalised the Port Klang glove factory with a meagre RM1,000 for violating the SOPs," she said.

Marina also chided corporate players who had neglected the safety and health of their workers.

It is high time effective monitoring system and deterrent penalties are imposed in view of the high number of Covid-19 cases reported daily, she said.