Covid-19: Proposed RM1mil maximum compound over breach of SOP will derail economic recovery efforts, says business community

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PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry's proposed maximum compound of RM1mil for businesses guilty of breaching Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) is too punitive and will derail economic recovery efforts, says the business community.

Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said small businesses would be hurt by amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1998 , which once passed in Parliament, would see companies and organisations that flout Covid-19 SOP stand to be fined a maximum of RM1mil for compoundable offences.

As such, Soh said the government should come out with a different and targeted approach instead of punishing the majority of companies in Malaysia, which were MSMEs struggling to survive. "Based on the previous statistics from the Health Ministry, the sporadic cases took up almost 70% of total positive cases which cannot be traced to any cluster whereas positive cases from cluster-based were about 30% only.

"At a time when businesses, especially the SMEs, are trying to recover from the prolonged lockdowns, the proposed maximum penalty is excessive," he said. Businesses were still in the healing process to rebuild their recovery path post the pandemic, and some continued to face operating cash flow problems, he said. As such, Low said it would be inconsiderate to add on the heavy fine burden.

 

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At least these businesses will know how it feels being f**ked just like when they f**k their own employees TrustNoOne

Do you not realized that the vax does not protect you from covid, it does not even protect you from government oppression.

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