MCO Violation: Punishment differs not because of bias - Ismail Sabri

The government denies that there is an element of bias in implementing legal action against those who violated the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he was aware of the dissatisfaction among some people, especially over the RM1,000 fine imposed on a deputy minister and a state exco member.

However, the Bera MP explained that the nature of the sentence differs depending on the type of charge imposed on the individual involved.

“I have already mentioned that the elected representatives are individuals who are allowed to work during the MCO. They need to keep the people's interest. It means they must be free to move, to provide welfare assistance to the people.

"Maybe due to a violation of the SOP, then action will be taken ... but the charge is only under Act 342 (Penal Code), and the maximum fine is RM1,000," he told a daily press conference here today.

Yesterday, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali and Perak Exco Razman Zakaria were each fined RM1,000 by the Gerik Magistrate's Court for defaulting the MCO.

In addition, 13 other individuals who attended the banquet at a Tahfiz Maahad in Lenggong were also fined the same.

Elaborating on this, Ismail Sabri said there were also charges that led to the accused being sentenced to heavier sentences such as jail.

"For example, some have been arrested for obstructing a civil servant’s duty, some fighting while in detention, fighting with police and so on ... this is preventing civil servants from carrying out their duties. Some crashed the roadblock until a policeman broke his leg.

“Those who have been jailed did not only violate the MCO, not just a SOP violation, but there are other offences involving the Penal Code… so the punishment is different. Not because there are two levels of people involved,” he added.