The public can still appeal for a reduction of the RM1,000 compound issued on those caught not wearing face masks in crowded places.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said therefore, there was no need to amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) to reduce the amount.

"We issue a RM1,000 compound but the people can appeal and the Health Ministry can give a lesser amount. So, I think we don't have to amend the act because it will need time, whereas the cases are happening and we have to take action now.

"If we are to amend the act, we have to bring it to the Parliament and we can't make it for this session, we have to wait for the next sitting," he said after visiting the Independence mural site and the Slim River morning market here, today.

He was responding to a statement from the Kuching MP Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen who urged the government to review the amount of the RM1,000 compound imposed on those caught not wearing face masks because it was a burden, especially the B40 group and students.

Commenting on the COVID-19 virus with the D614G mutation, Ismail Sabri urged the people to keep complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the government.

"I was informed by the Health Ministry that the virus brought by the Sivagangga Cluster has been contained, so it is no longer spreading in Kedah, Perlis and so forth," he said.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement today said the Malaysian Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has detected the D614G mutation as a result of isolation and culture tests on three cases from the Sivagangga patient-under-investigation (PUI) Cluster and one case from the Ulu Tiram Cluster.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri who is also UMNO vice-president advised Barisan Nasional supporters and the machinery for the Slim state by-election to always adhere to the SOPs to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"I understand that we want to ensure our candidate's victory, so you must wear a face mask in crowded places where it is hard to maintain physical distance," he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri when met by reporters while visiting the media centre for the Slim state by-election said there is no need for the government to implement the administrative Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) throughout Kedah.

He said the emergence of new COVID-19 clusters in an area does not necessarily mean that TEMCO should be implemented and the decision on the matter could only be made after obtaining the advice from the Health Ministry.

"So far, there is no instruction (to implement TEMCO throughout Kedah) unless the Health Ministry says it is necessary, then we will make an announcement and list down the dos and don'ts before issuing the TEMCO directive," he said.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was reported as saying that the state government has no plans to implement TEMCO throughout the state as it would only be enforced in COVID-19-affected areas.

To date, four COVID-19 clusters - Sivagangga, Tawar, Muda and Sala - have been detected in Kedah involving districts such as Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap, Kulim, Baling, Kuala Muda and Yan.

-- BERNAMA