The proposed amendments had sought to increase compound fines for individuals from the current RM1,000 to RM10,000. Businesses, which can currently be fined RM10,000, could be compounded RM500,000 for the first offence and up to RM2 million for repeat offences if the amendments had been passed.

“The fine of RM1,000 for those who flout Covid-19 SOPs under the current Act stays,” said Ismail at Umno’s general assembly today.

He added that the decision not to table the amendments was made after taking into consideration calls from within Umno.

Tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last December, the amendments to Act 342 also provided for imprisonment of up to seven years for those who flouted Covid-19 SOPs.

Initially, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had pushed for the amendments to be made, stating that provisions under the Emergency Ordinance had been found to have been effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) Ordinance 2021, the government had raised penalties for SOP breaches to a maximum of RM10,000 for individuals and RM50,000 for organisations or companies.

The amendments to Act 342 had been met with backlash from the opposition and businesses for allegedly giving draconian powers to the enforcement authorities to impose harsh penalties and fines.

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