Annuar said no one would be spared fines and compound if they were found in violation of standard procedures and regulations enforced under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, Bernama reported.

Earlier today, a Sin Chew Daily reporter, Wong Kian Yong, was issued a compound of RM1,000 for not observing physical distancing rules at the nomination centre for the Larkin state seat in the Johor state elections. Another reporter, Khairulanuar Yahaya of news portal Malaysia Gazette, was let off with a warning.

Asked about the incident, Annuar said: “As for the SOP, it is not a new thing…it has been gazetted for a long time. No one is exempted including the prime minister, even (Cabinet) ministers have to pay the compound, so media practitioners are also not exempted.

“Take it as a reminder that the SOP is equally applicable to everyone…it is not too difficult for all parties to comply with the SOPs except in certain circumstances,” he told reporters after visiting the Bernama operations centre and the ministry’s media centre for the Johor elections.