Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said the state law, Emblems And Names (Prevention Of Improper Use) Enactment, only imposed a fine of RM1,000 on individuals and parties who misused the emblems and honorary titles, which is deemed to be low.

He said a fine of RM100,000 to RM200,000 or a jail term of up to three years as provided under Section 283 in the Criminal Procedure Code was deemed fit to be imposed.

“Based on reliable information, most of the emblems and titles obtained illegally are worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit. Therefore, the fines ranging from RM100,000 to RM200,000 are considered fit and can prevent misuse of the unrecognised emblems and honorary titles,” he said when tabling the motion in the state assembly yesterday.

At the opening of the state assembly’s fourth session on Monday, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had ordered the state government to make amendments to the Enactment.

The act of giving, selling and using state awards which are not recognised by irresponsible parties, either from the palace or the Selangor state government, was said to have become rampant in recent years.

– BERNAMA