MELAKA: A 17-year-old from Batu Berendam received a RM10,000 compound for not using the MySejahtera app for scanning or registering his details when visiting a grocery shop here.
The Form Five student - who declined to be named - claimed he was compounded on Sunday (March 14) when he rushed to the grocery shop near his house to get paracetamol pills for his mother.
“I only asked whether there was a particular paracetamol brand available at the outlet and when leaving the outlet, plainclothes cops sighted me and issued the compound, ” he said when contacted on Monday (March 15).
“I wasn’t given a chance to explain and the compound was issued on the spot but I understand, the cops were carrying out their duties, ” he added.
He said that he has another sister who is still in school, adding that his father's salary is insufficient to settle the compound while his mother is a housewife.
“Hopefully, I am able to appeal against the compound and find the money to settle it without burdening my parents, ” he said.
When contacted, Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Afzanizar Ahmad said the student could appeal to the Melaka Tengah district health officer to reduce the fine.
Meanwhile, Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong suggested that matters pertaining to standard operating procedures (SOP) during the recovery movement control order and compounds be placed under the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
He said his suggestion came after many at the grassroots including eatery owners expressed their disappointment on the unclear implementation of SOP during the recovery MCO.
Low said that people can't remain silent when they are eager to know about issues related to the MCO and Covid-19, adding that frequent updates are necessary.
“Hence, I suggest the CMO is given the clout to manage and release statements to the media on the MCO and Covid-19 cases, ” he added.
