IPOH: A Perak state executive committee member has defended the move to compound six matriculation students RM1,500 each for allegedly wearing face masks improperly.
The controversy had erupted on social media, as the students claimed to have been issued the compounds during their quarantine at Perak Matriculation College in Gopeng on Sunday.
However, state Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said the students should pay the compounds.
A team of health officers had gone to the college to look into a food poisoning case before they came across the students and issued the compounds.
"They (the health officers) were working to break the chain of infection. We should respect them.
"These students don't have to worry about it (paying the fine) because they can appeal for a lower amount. They should able to afford it (discounted amount).
"I can help to pay the compounds if they can't afford it," Akmal told reporters after attending the Op Food Safety at Taman Orkid Ramadan Bazaar in Batu Gajah here, today.
Also present was Perak Health Director, Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming.
Despite his defence of the controversial move, Akmal expressed hope for Malaysians to remain calm over the matter.
"We should think positively about what the Health Ministry has done. They have been working tirelessly to break the Covid-19 chain.
"They have been treating patients, provide vaccinations and getting involved in enforcement measures.
"We do not persecute any party and I urge all the people to support the government."
Earlier, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in his Twitter account said that the state Health Department had acknowledged the matter and is currently investigating the case.
He said this in response to a Twitter post by user @NabilAmirul4 which contained an image allegedly showing the incident and requesting an explanation from the ministry on why such a decision was made.
Several Twitter users have come to the defence of the students saying that these students have been confined or "quarantined" in their college for over five months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to user @ainurjannxh, health officials had visited the Perak Matriculation College in Gopeng on Sunday to investigate a case of food poisoning in a cafe there.
According to her, the officers visited the cafe yesterday and subsequently issued compound notices to the students for not wearing the masks properly.