GERIK, April 28 – BERNAMA reported that Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali was fined the maximum amount of RM1,000 in default one month’s jail by the Magistrate’s Court here today for breaching the Movement Control Order (MCO) by attending a lunch event two weeks ago.
Also fined the same amount were Perak executive councillor for education, human capital development, non-governmental organisation (NGO) and civil society, Razman Zakaria, and 13 others.
Magistrate Norhidayati Mohammad Nasroh meted out the fine after all of them pleaded guilty to the charge, which was read out simultaneously by the court interpreter.
All of them paid the fine, according to the national news agency.
Gathering to distribute food to locals
In meeting out the fine, Norhidayati said the fine would suffice since it was the first offence for all of them and that they were all gathered there to perform the Asar prayer and distribute food to the locals.
“Taking into account that they were gathered there not for something meaningless, but to assist the local community in the wake of COVID-19.
“However, I find that the purpose of such a gathering is not an exception, as what is important is that it also pose a big risk to the virus infection,” she added.
According to the facts of the case, they were earlier at the Lenggong Health Clinic where Dr Noor Azmi was on an official working visit and after the event, went to Maahad Tahfiz Quran Lid Dakwah Wal Imamah to perform the Asar prayer and also distribute dried food to representatives of the local residents, before adjourning for a meal at a hall there.
An image of Dr Noor Azmi, who is Bagan Serai Member of Parliament, and Razman, who is also Perak PAS Commissioner and Gunung Semanggol State Assemblyman, eating together with the others was viraled on the social media the following day.
Dr Noor Azmi apologises to Malaysians over alleged MCO breach
The Deputy Health Minister had earlier made an apology to Malaysians for his breach of MCO.
He made the apology at the Putrajaya district police headquarters on April 21 with regard to his visit on Friday, April 17 to the Tahfiz Quran Lid Dakwah Wal Imamah in Lenggong, Perak.
“I apologise and admit my mistake regarding my presence at the Maahad Tahfiz Quran at Lid Dakwah Wal Imamah in Lenggong, Perak on Friday, after an official visit to the Lenggong Health Clinic.” he said.
Phase 3 of MCO commenced on April 14
Phase 3 of MCO commenced on April 15, where violators were no longer fined but to be charged and face jail sentencing.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier said that under Section 24 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), the court could impose a jail sentence for up to two years and for subsequent offence jail of up to five years.
Ismail also said that to ensure a higher level of public compliance with MCO, the government has decided that from today, those who are caught defying the order will be straight away detained for legal action and no longer issued compound as was done during the first and second phase.
–NMT
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