In a statement, its deputy director of enforcement (operations), Shamsul Nizam Khalil, said the ministry would issue a compound up to RM10,000 against businesses that violated the SOPs, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).

Shamsul said the compound, which acts as a deterrent measure, was to ensure both traders and consumers complied with the SOPs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that ministry officers conducted daily monitoring and inspections to ensure the SOPs’ compliance in 22 trade and distribution subsectors following several relaxations announced recently.

So far, he noted that compliance was at a satisfactory level, although the ministry had fined a premise in Seberang Perai, Penang over the weekend for failure to display its maximum number of customers.

“The action was taken as a message to traders that the ministry is serious in enforcing the SOPs.”

According to Shamsul, between May 13 and Aug 22, there were a total of 737,821 premises inspected with 840 compounds issued, amounting to RM4,460,000.

“Based on the statistics, compliance in the distribution trade sector is at a satisfactory level where 98.74% of premises complied with the SOPs, while only 0.08% of premises were compounded and the remaining 1.06% of premises were advised and warned.”