SOP breach: No double standards in issuing compound notices, says PM

SHAH ALAM: There will be no double standards when enforcing Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"You can be a minister, a deputy minister, head of department or whoever.

"There is no such concept that only the lowly will be issued compound notices while the high-ranking or those above would not.

"Whoever commits a wrong or flouts the SOP, will be compounded," the Prime Minister told reporters when met after launching the Malaysia Census Report 2020 themed "Your Data, Our Future" on Monday (Feb 14).

Ismail Sabri said this showed that the government will not differentiate between those who breach Covid-19 SOP.

He was asked to comment on orders by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to issue compound notices to Barisan treasurer Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for breaching SOP at an event in Johor.

Apart from Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, others said to been involved in breaching the SOP included Johor Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran while attending the launching of the MIC Johor Brigade at EduCity Kota Iskandar on Sunday (Feb 13).

Ismail Sabri also brushed aside calls by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh for Hishammuddin to resign for flouting the SOP.

He noted that flouting the SOP was not a criminal act which warrants such a drastic action.

He said that there would be no one left to manage the country if all those who flout SOP were forced to resign.