KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a maximum RM1,000 compound on the organiser of the “100-Day Malaysian Family Aspiration” event for failure to establish physical distancing among attendees that led to crowd congestion.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, in a statement today, said the 100-day milestone celebration has been “tainted” by the event organiser’s failure to ensure that Covid-19 health protocols were observed among participants and visitors at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
The event — a celebration of achievements by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Cabinet within 100 days of their appointment — is organised by the Shared Prosperity Delivery Unit (Sepadu) under the Prime Minister’s Department.
“An official government event like this should set the best example and serve as a benchmark for others, including non-government agencies and the public, to follow, not only in its implementation but also in aspects of compliance with health SOPs and regulations that have been set.
“It was a very regrettable and disappointing incident as the organisers had previously expressed their commitment to ensuring that the programme will be carried out with strict compliance of SOPs, in addition to continuous monitoring, controlling, and enforcement actions.
“The crowd congestion, absence of physical distancing, and no crowd control over the number of visitors allowed (at a given time) only heighten the risk of Covid-19 transmission,” said Khairy.
Accordingly, Khairy said a RM1,000 compound under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342) was issued to the organisers for failing to ensure physical distancing.
The health minister pointed out that the maximum compound value that can be issued to an individual or institutional offender is RM1,000 following the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances on December 8, 2021, by the Senate.
Khairy added that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) summons payment counters that offer discounts in KLCC will be closed immediately today. More information on the summons payment method and discounts will be notified by the PDRM.
“MOH will continue to monitor the progress of this (four-day) programme and will not hesitate to issue another compound to the organisers if they fail to ensure SOP compliance again,” Khairy said.
“As a government, we should be setting the best example and practices to society. We must follow the same standards that have been enforced on the people.”
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) earlier slammed the event as a gathering that is bent on “pushing up the number of Covid-19 cases” as the next 100-day KPI.
