COMMENT | MCO: Imprisonment should be the last resort

COMMENT | About a week or so ago, it was reported that police will be issuing compounds for violators of the movement control order (MCO) instead of arresting them and charging them in court.

According to a police spokesperson, each compound notice will come with RM1,000.00 fine, and violators will be given a strict timeline to pay the fine. Failure to do so could mean that the violator will be charged in court.

Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act a person who commits an offence shall be liable upon conviction to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding two years or to a fine or both, for a first offence. The act also allows the authorities to issue such compound notices to a maximum of RM1,000.00...