Deputy Health Minister Charged In Court For Flouting MCO

Over a week ago, two ministers went viral for flouting the Movement Control Order (MCO) and proudly posted pictures of them doing it on social media. (You can read all about it here.)

The incident drew nationwide backlash as Malaysians accused the government of practising double standards when it comes to those who breached the MCO.

Well justice seems to have caught up with one of the ministers – Deputy Health Minister Dato Dr Haji Noor Azmi was charged at the Gerik Magistrate Court at 9am on Tuesday (28 April) for flouting the MCO at reported by The Star.

Besides Noor Azmi, Perak executive council member Datuk Razman Zakaria and 13 others were also charged for the same offense after all of them were pictured having a meal together in close proximity at a maahad tahfiz in Lenggong, Perak.

They pleaded guilty for violating the MCO on 17 April.

Magistrate Norhidayati Mohammad Nasroh ordered the accused to pay a RM1,000 fine each and one month's jail if they failed to pay the fine.

All of them were charged under rule 6(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020.

"I would like to humbly offer my sincere apologies and thank those who have supported me."

"I will obey the law and the jurisdiction of this country. I will perform better to provide only the best health for Malaysians," Noor Azmi told reporters.

Terima kasih banyak YB Dato' Seri Ahmad Said yg menerima kunjungan saya hari ini, Jumaat 17 Apr 2020 dan seterusnya menikmati makan tengah hari bersama.Alhamdulillah kami dpt berbincang dlm suasana ceria harmoni tentang suasana semasa di Terengganu dan Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/ptdIt6pjDk
— Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (@DrAhmadSamsuri) April 17, 2020

On the same day, Terengganu Chief Minister Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was also pictured having lunch with Dato' Seri Ahmad Said at the former Terengganu Chief Minister’s home.

Could they be charged next?

Whatever it is, there should be no double standards relating to who gets punished.

If you did the crime, you have to serve the time (or in this case, pay the fine).