Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki supported the government’s efforts to tighten the standard operating procedures, but said the high fines would only burden the public.

In a Facebook post, he said the wing would offer free legal advice to people who were issued the large compounds “for minor offences such as not wearing a mask.”

Asyraf said the wing’s legal team would help represent the public at the health ministry to appeal for their fines to be reduced.

“Soon, Umno Youth will also provide an online platform for individuals who have been compounded to submit information and seek legal advice,” he said.

“Umno Youth maintains that the government should review the RM10,000 compound, so the public will not continue to feel oppressed and burdened.”

Two opposition parties have also announced that they will be offering legal assistance to those issued RM10,000 fines for violating the movement control order’s standard operating procedures.

DAP’s legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh said its services would be available nationwide with priority given to the B40 category, while Johor PKR deputy chief Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said the state PKR’s legal team would offer pro bono services to those issued summonses in the state.

Meanwhile, de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the government would soon list the offences subject to the maximum RM10,000 compound to avoid further confusion.

“We will maintain the ordinance on RM10,000 compound for individuals and RM50,000 for companies but the government will resolve the issue of its implementation, including on the issuance of summonses to violators,” he said.

Takiyuddin added that the matter would be discussed in a meeting with the Covid-19 emergency management technical committee tomorrow.