KUCHING: Police have clarified and denied any abuse of power as alleged by Senator Alan Ling last Saturday (May 22), following the issuing of RM6,500 compounds to two stall operators in Miri for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail explained that the action taken was based on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) as well as relevant regulations.
“There is no issue of abuse of power by the police because the actions taken were based on existing laws.
“To further clarify the incident, a Covid-19 SOP monitoring team received a public tip-off about a premises serving breakfast to customers,” he said in a statement.
The monitoring team’s arrival at the premises at Fisherman Food Court, Luak Bay at 9.30 am was noticed by some customers who promptly fled the area, said Aidi.
In addition, the team found an employee preparing food for dine-in customers at the premises.
Aidi said the premises owner had violated the regulations imposed under the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
He added the premises was arranged in such a way that customers could sit down and eat. An employee was also seen tidying up a table.
“In addition, the team spotted a customer eating at a table not far from the shop. The person was issued a compound after he refused to cooperate when questioned by the monitoring team,” said Aidi.
The police commissioner added that after he was compounded, the person, who claimed to be the owner of one of the stalls inside the food court, expressed his dissatisfaction with the action of the monitoring team.
Aidi added that further checks also found that the owner did not have a licence from the Miri City Council (MCC). He only had a business license.
“Therefore, the allegation put forward by Senator Alan Ling and the premises owner that no customers were dining at the premises was untrue.
“In this regard, the owner is requested to submit a full copy of CCTV footage to the police to assist in the investigation of CMCO SOP violation,” said the police commissioner.
Aidi explained that the SOP compliance monitoring carried out by the police was part of the government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Sarawak.
The public are reminded to always comply with the SOPs that are updated from time to time by the National Security Council (NSC) for the common good.
