Joel Anam, 33, and Joni, 24, were fined RM1,000 each for breaking the “one car, one person” rule. Joel does not own a car, and Joni is unemployed.

Both men are breadwinners for their families, with Joel having three children, and Joni a child.

Joel said he had hitched a ride from his brother to go from their village in Sook to Keningau to withdraw money to buy supplies on April 14 when they were stopped at a roadblock at Jalan Durok Keningau.

“A return journey would have cost me about RM100, so I decided to save the money and go with Joni, who is the only one in the family with a car,” he said.

Joel works as a gardener in a school in Sook. Joni was also a gardener at the same school but lost his job earlier this year.

The two men said they are now forced to do without the RM1,000 cash aid they received under the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional scheme, but will use the remaining RM600 they will receive next month for their families.

Households with an income of RM4,000 and below are entitled to a cash aid of RM1,600 to be paid in two instalments.

According to their village chief, Emoh, the brothers had approached him for help.

“So, on April 16, I went to the local health office to appeal to them to reduce or cancel the compound.

“However, the health officer said the fines must be paid in full but the brothers may file an appeal in court after the MCO is lifted.

” We can only hope the court will be kind to them,” he said.

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