Woman Fined RM50,000 For Selling 'Coronavirus-Repelling' Bracelets As COVID-19 Cases Rise
Amidst concerns over the rise in COVID-19 cases, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that were eased for the Recovery MCO (RMCO) will be tightened again.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Jul 2020, 09:38 PM
Earlier Saturday, 25 July, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) fined a woman RM50,000 for selling bracelets that she claimed are capable of warding off the coronavirus
In a statement, KPDNHEP enforcement director Iskandar Halim Sulaiman said the Ministry took the action after the issue had gone viral on Facebook where the bracelet was being promoted by the woman.
The so-called 'coronavirus-repelling' bracelets were priced at RM580 each.
According to the statement that was posted at about 6.40pm today, the woman, who is an agent of a direct selling company, was questioned for promoting the bracelet on her Facebook account.
The woman was charged under Section 10 (1) (h) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 for making a false or misleading statement
For the offence, she was issued a maximum compound of RM50,000 under Section 10 which implies that there is a duty of traders not to make false or misleading representation in respect of goods and services.
The Ministry will take legal action against the woman if she fails to pay the fine.
"(KPDNHEP) is serious in ensuring that consumers are not deceived by promotions or misleading statements on the use of a product," Iskandar said, adding that anyone selling and/or promoting any products should always comply with the rules and regulations set by the government.
The action by KPDNHEP comes as COVID-19 cases in Malaysia continue to rise. The country recorded 23 new cases today.
Saturday's two-digit count in daily new cases mark the second consecutive day with more than 20 new infections. On Friday, 24 July, Malaysia recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases.
The new infections have now brought active cases to 167.
Of the 23 cases today, six are imported while 17 are local transmissions. Of which, 10 are Malaysians and seven are non-citizens, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Over the past few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has been fluctuating.
With the daily new cases hovering around two-digit count, wearing face masks in public places including public transport has been made mandatory beginning 1 August.
Amidst concerns, the government today said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that were eased for the Recovery MCO (RMCO) will be tightened again
The government had lifted the MCO on 9 June after 83 days when it was first imposed on 18 March. RMCO came into effect on 10 June and is scheduled to end on 31 August.
According to Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the government decided on the implementation of the MCO following concerns over the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
"The technical committee will meet tomorrow to work on the finer details of the SOPs and table it at the ministerial meeting on Monday," Sabri was reported as saying today at the Putra World Trade Centre.
The government will also finalise on the SOPs for Hari Raya Aidiladha on Monday.
"We are worried about (COVID-19) infections during Aidiladha. If during Aidilfitri we had set a limit of no more than 20 guests, then for Aidiladha we will also set a limit," he said.
"The police will monitor SOP compliance during the Aidiladha celebration, just like during Aidilfitri. If there is any SOP violation, arrests and action will be carried out on the spot."
