RM1K MCO Fine For Standing 0.8m Apart In Queue?

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Can you really get a RM1,000 MCO fine for standing just 0.8 metres apart in a queue?

Find out what happened to Bernard He, and what the FACTS really are!

 

Claim : RM1K MCO Fine For Standing 0.8m Apart In Queue!

On 4 February, Bernard He Linjun was queuing up for his turn at cash deposit machine at a bank, when the police came to check for compliance with the MCO SOP.

The police officers took pictures at the bank, asked customers for their MyKad identity cards, and then instructed them to wait outside after using the ATM machines.

Bernard thought he was safe because he logged his visit using MySejahtera, and had queued up properly – standing inside the designated queue box.

Nevertheless, when his turn came, he was issued a RM1,000 MCO fine for not complying with the social distancing SOP!

When he questioned the police officer, he was told that while he was standing inside the marked box, they were all less than 1 metre apart.

According to the police, the boxes were only 0.8 metres apart, and the bank did not adjust their spacing even after being warned about this earlier.

As this was a technical violation of the law, they had to issue him the compound. They also fined the bank for violating the SOP.

He ended his post with the advice that people should help to warn businesses and other people about such SOP requirements, so they won’t get fined like him.

 

RM1K MCO Fine For Standing 0.8m Apart In Queue : The Facts

Some netizens have suggested that he may not be telling the truth. After all, similar claims have proven to be false in the past.

Others have also suggested that he was complaining on Facebook to gain sympathy, fame or attention.

However, Bernard was telling the truth, and here are the reasons why….

Fact #1 : He Posted A Picture Of His Compound

On 5 February 2021, Bernard posted a picture of the police compound he received.

It showed that he was, indeed, fined RM1,000 on 4 February 2021, for not complying with the social distancing SOP.

Fact #2 : There Is A 1 Metre Social Distancing Requirement In Public

There is a 1 metre social distancing requirement in public, including businesses like banks and shopping malls.

This applies throughout Malaysia, irrespective of whether the area is under RMCO, CMCO or MCO restrictions.

Even though it is hard for anyone to visually differentiate between 0.8 metre and a full metre, the police are technically correct to say that standing 0.8 metre from someone else is breaking the law.

To be safe, try to stand further away (1.5 to 2 metres) from other people. If they complain, use Bernard’s example as evidence that this is no joke.

Do also note that the social distancing rule is extended to a minimum of 3 metres for dynamic sporting activities.

Fact #3 : You Can Appeal The Decision

If you feel that the police wrongly issued the MCO fine, you can appeal it.

In Bernard’s case, he was relying on the bank to accurately space out their “social distancing boxes” for their customers.

He may not necessarily win his appeal, but he has a good reason to appeal.

After all, no one brings a measuring tape to ensure social distancing, and we all rely on marked boxes to comply with the SOP.

 

Bernard’s Posts On His RM1K MCO Fine

For those who can read Chinese, here was what Bernard He posted about how he received a RM1,000 MCO fine for not complying with the social distancing SOP :

今天我去银行存款结果在存款机面前被开了一张RM1000的罚单，我已经遵守SOP了还是被罚款，今天要去存钱的大家请注意，也请告知身边朋友。

事情是这样的，刚才我去银行处理事务然后再存款，M银行大排长龙好不容易排到我，下一个就轮到我存款了！这个时候执法人员进来拍照了，然后要大家把ic拿出来交给他，并且请我们提款之后在外等候。我看了看脚下，幸好有站在格子里保持安全距离 也有scan My Sejaterah，我想说乖乖配合就好了。这时M银行经理出来了，他请执法人员去一旁，执法人员说对她说：我昨天已经警告你们了为什么你们还不遵守SOP？M银行经理说是顾客Degil不遵守SOP。

之后执法人员礼貌的叫了我然后开了一张罚单给我，我目瞪口呆的说：我有站在格子啊而且下一个人就到我了明明距离很远。他说：我有看到你跟前面的距离很远，也有站在格子里，但是地上的格子违规了！格子距离不到1米，他还给我看（确实目测只有0.8米）。然后警察也礼貌的解释，他们已经警告过商家了但是商家没有调整，他也明白不是我们的问题，但是因为在执法不管什么原因确实也是违规了所以要开罚单给现场所有人。我问执法人员，那这种情况我们要怎么处理？他说我们只能时刻自己保持警惕。他们也向该银行开出了罚单。

看到这篇文章的你们，请你们不要吝啬的转发出去，如果看到店家或其他人违规SOP一定要说出来！不然你也会像我一样莫名其妙的被罚款！

He also posted a more detailed FAQ on his experience :

大家好，我是Bernard森竣，

针对昨天我在银行发生的事件，由于事情发酵得太快，为了不让事件扭曲或有所误解，因此我没在当下回复各位网民和媒体朋友，深感抱歉。该银行分行经理在中午时分已经联系我说明来龙去脉，并且愿意配合该负责的相关罚款和事项。此外，我刚才也在律师的陪同下，已经和各报记者交代事件来龙去脉。

相信很多网民看到这个事件也跟我一样一头雾水，咨询律师之后我想跟大家分享我的看法。站在我的立场，当事情发生时我并没有想要责怪任何一方，而且现场发生事情时大家应该都焦头烂额，或许也略带个人情绪；如果这时候追究一定会把事情复杂化，因此我先选择接罚单，事后再来处理。我也跟大家一样很多事情当下都搞不清楚状况所以也一并咨询了律师关于我的疑虑，以下我也来回应各位的问题。

1.不是我们的错是不是不要乱签罚单？

【签名不代表认罪】所以不要担心，为了不造成现场混乱我们必须先理智的配合执法人员的作业程序，之后再处理问题。

2.为什么不post罚单出来？

【公开罚单出来是不违法的】当时我不知道公开执法单位开出来的罚单算不算违法，所以为了避免触犯法律我选择不公开发出来，我已经把罚单交给律师和银行了。
3：为什么当场不去投诉？

【当下场面混乱投诉无意义】事发之后我有打客服电话告知来龙去脉，并且要求他们给于回应。

4：明知道疫情那么严重为什么要出门？

【确实因为有事情要处理】如有要办事情，只要遵守政府规定的SOP之下都可以外出。况且我们都是人类，都怕染疫，我相信应该不会有人无缘无故故意去被传染。

5.为什么只有你出来说话？只有你中罚单吗？还是故意炒作？

【我不知道为什么只有我出来发文】但是当时排在我后面的小女生有和我联系。现场除了在提款的人没中罚单，其余的都接了罚单包括该银行。昨天的文章里面写得很清楚，我是希望大家转发出去让身边的人知道有这件事情发生请大家多注意，如果要刻意炒作你也不会现在才认识我。

6：为何不公开事发地点和哪家银行分行？

【我一向不认同针对性的指责】针对这件事情，我个人认为搞清楚事情比较重要，就算大家齐力抵制了该银行分行，我们也很有可能在没有搞清楚作业程序之下在其他银行或地方发生类似事件。现在网路消息散播的非常迅速，我觉得面对任何事都要就事论事，避免发生网路霸凌事件。

7：有拍照吗？为什么不拍现场的照片？

【没有拍现场照片】我认为随意拍照会牵涉个人隐私而且当时执法人员在执法为了避免不必要的麻烦我们乖乖配合就好，况且银行都有CCTV，有必要的时候我们可以要求闭路电视档案。

8：所以每个人都要带一把尺出门自己量吗？

【当然也不至于】只要我们觉得很拥挤了或看到别人没有遵守SOP，我们可以礼貌向对方提出。“生命安全”跟“paiseh不好意思说”比起来我们更要捍卫自己的安全，所以为了保护自己我们时刻都要礼貌理智的解决问题。

9：立春存钱，是你自己太迷信，活该被罚！

【尊重每一个人】在这个社会我认为要尊重每个宗教，信仰，种族。我们尽管做好自己的本分，遵守政府规定的SOP行事就好，我们也没办法强迫影响每个人的思维。

10：当下就要缴付RM1000吗？

【罚单有还款期限】罚单上面是有还款期限的，如果你觉得不是你的问题，你可以去上诉还原真相。请不要觉得麻烦或者是破财消灾，错了就接受惩罚，没错就不要默默背锅。

事情发生了就发生了，能提醒就提醒，能自觉就自觉，该处理的处理。大家都是第一次经历疫情，没有谁比谁更有经验，如果在生活上面对什么问题可以试着询问身边有相关人士或有关单位，千万不要意气用事，多花一点时间把事情完善的解决比较重要。最后感谢吉隆坡中华大会堂与媒体朋友们对于此事的关注和协助。

希望疫情期间大家好好的注意防护并且严厉遵守SOP，新年快乐！

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