PDRM Will Not Fine You RM1,000 For Not Wearing A Face Mask While Driving
There is a viral message going around on WhatsApp claiming so.
By May Vin Ang — 29 Jul 2020, 05:27 PM
There is a viral WhatsApp message going around alleging that the police are targeting drivers who are not wearing face masks while driving
Variations of the message warn that drivers around Malaysia are being stopped and fined RM1,000 for not wearing masks, especially if there are more than two people, in their cars.
It also warns that the public should wear masks when not eating while in restaurants or face repercussions of breaching the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
However, as far as we know, this message is fake news
First of all, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that wearing face masks in public will be made mandatory only beginning 1 August.
The police cannot fine people RM1,000 for flouting an order that has not yet been implemented.
Secondly, in his speech, Ismail Sabri specified that face masks will be mandatory only in crowded public places and public transportation, but not private vehicles.
While they have yet to address this newest message, the National Security Council (NSC) has already disproved a similar message that was circulating last week
On their official Twitter account, the NSC said the message titled 'Announcement by the Malaysian Government' that claims the government would be issuing summonses without warning towards the public is a hoax.
The fake message also included warnings that the public would be fined for not wearing face masks properly in public places and if not alone in a vehicle.
For credible information and updates on standard operating procedures for the RMCO, follow the NSC on their official Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Telegram.
Alternatively, you could also check the veracity of messages and send reports of dubious information to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on Sebenarnya.my to combat fake news.
