Here’s a rhetorical question for you. As we’ve been under different movement control orders for more than a year, some of us have gone a little stir crazy. So, what do you think is worth breaking the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for?
This man in Ipoh decided his answer and paid for it. He travelled from Jelutong to Ipoh to buy some roast duck and was fined RM5000.
A video and a photo of the man’s ticket was circulated on social media yesterday (2nd June). Apparently, a Chinese man from Jelutong was stopped by the police when he travelled to Ipoh for some roast duck. The incident took place last Sunday (30th May). According to the ticket, the man was fined for failing to comply with the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at 11:30am that day. Additionally, the man was out without a good reason. As such, the man was ticketed under section 21a of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Deputy Ipoh OCPD (Operations) Supt Lee Swee Sake confirmed that the evidence circulated online was not a hoax. He clarified that the Chinese man was fined as he could not give the police a reasonable reason to be out of the house. They would not have ticketed him otherwise. Lee added that if citizens feel they have a reasonable reason, they can make their appeals at the health bureau. If that fails, they can appeal to the judge when they go to court.
Lee also reminded the public that the Hulu Kinta district, which includes Ipoh, is still under EMCO until 4th June. As such, the public must abide by the SOPs during this period.
If you do need to leave the house, please make sure its for a legitimate reason! Somehow, we don’t think the roast duck was worth getting fined RM5000.
Sources: Oriental Daily, China Press
