KUALA LUMPUR: The RM1,000 fine for flouting the mandatory public mask-wearing requirement may be reduced thanks to Kelvin Yii's (PH-Bandar Kuching) motion to amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), which was accepted by Dewan Rakyat today.
Yii submitted the motion to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun last Thursday, and it was tabled in the Lower House today.
According to Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon, Yii's motion fulfilled all three criteria as stipulated under Standing Order 18(1), which are that the motion is specific, of public interest and urgent in nature.
"I have looked into it, and found that the matter is definite, urgent, of public importance and it must be expedited.
"Therefore, I allow the motion to be debated according to Standing Order 16(6). The motion shall be debated at 2.30pm today at the Special Chambers," he told the House today.
When tabling the motion, Yii said that the RM1,000 fine is too high and burdening the people, especially the poor, students and people with disabilities.
"This motion is a specific matter related to the government's plan on the mask-wearing policy which came into effect on Aug 1. (It pertains to) the unclear definition of the word 'crowded'; the disorganised enforcement; and the fine for flouters, which is too heavy...
"This effort involves the interest of the people and that this mandatory policy is affecting the public regardless of race, religion and socio-economic situation," he said.
Last week, Yii told the media that 78 Members of Parliament from both sides of the political divide had signed a petition to urge the government to reduce the RM1,000 fine to RM250.
He said while parliamentarians understand the rationale for implementing the mask-wearing policy, the compound should serve as a lesson instead of a harsh punishment.
Starting from Aug 1, mask-wearing was made mandatory in crowded public places and on public transport nationwide.