The mandatory wearing of face masks in public places which came into power on August 1 is being properly followed by Perakeans.
Ipoh Echo’s latest visit to shopping complexes around town found that visitors regardless of age are wearing face masks without exemption.
Nor Sakinah Mohd Imran, 35, housewife from Simpang Pulai, opined that the government’s strict order to the public to wear face masks is timely and beneficial to everyone.
“Their regulation should be followed because it’s a great effort to break the COVID-19 infection chain,” she said. “About the RM1,000 fine to those who fail to follow, it’s a good decision to discipline the public. Everything the government does is for the betterment of everyone.”
On July 23, the Minister of Defence, Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the federal government is mandating the wearing of face masks following the worrying trend of the pandemic’s increased number of cases globally, including Malaysia itself.
A RM1,000 compound under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342) can be imposed on any individuals who fail to follow the new regulation.
Meor Azlin Meor Azmin, 42, from Tanjung Rambutan, agreed to the government’s decision in doing so.
“Frankly speaking, the compound’s amount isn’t an issue, compared to everyone’s health and safety,” he posited. “The government took the right step. There is still a part of the community who are stubborn and don’t follow orders, thus, this poses a warning to them.”
Ipohites and Perakeans, let’s fully cooperate with our government. If another wave of COVID-19 infection is let loose due to carelessness, it’ll be a big hit to the country’s economy once more and that’s another issue for everyone to worry about.
Our country is one of the best in handling the life-threatening pandemic, so we should not take the frontliners‘ efforts for granted.
As of today (August 3), Perak remains a green zone without any new local transmissions of COVID-19 after 14 days and 28 days.
Rosli Mansor
