Maria Chin Abdullah said that awareness and precise guidelines were still lacking at all levels, noting that even those in government failed to observe standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“If leaders are unable to follow the SOPs but get off scot-free when they violate the rules, it will only bring disrepute to the SOPs,” the Petaling Jaya MP said in a statement.

She said it was also important to have clear guidelines on what the SOPs entail.

SOPs, Maria said, seem to be at the discretion of the police.

“There are cases where fines have been imposed by police for people on the streets after 10pm. Yet there has been no curfew time or time restraint announced.”

Earlier today, senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the penalties for compounds would be increased, but said this would depend on the emergency ordinance and changes to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1998 (Act 342).

Ismail explained that the Act currently only allowed a maximum penalty of RM1,000 to be issued on any company, citing previous criticism over the same fine of RM1,000 being imposed against multibillion-ringgit glove making companies for violating health SOPs.