Fact Check: RM1K CMCO Fine For Sitting Side By Side In Car!

Will you get a RM 1,000 fine for sitting side by side in a car during the CMCO / PKPB lockdown?

Is a passenger supposed to sit behind the driver, for social distancing reasons, during the lockdown?

Take a look at the viral posts, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claims : RM1K CMCO Fine For Sitting Side By Side In A Car!

This message is going viral on WhatsApp – evidence that a passenger just got fined RM 1,000 for sitting next to the driver during the CMCO lockdown!

Take a look at the message and picture of the police compound the driver allegedly received.

info sharing from my colleague, now car allow 2 pax right but have to 1 front 1 behind. his fren 2 also sit front get fine 1K. no argue

For those who prefer to read proper English instead of Manglish, here is our “translation” :

Sharing information passed on by my colleague.

Two persons are allowed in the car, but the passenger must sit behind the driver.

His friend sat in front with him and was fined RM 1,000.

There was no way to argue out of this fine.

Note : We intentionally added the HOAX overlay to prevent the images from being further misused.

This second warning circulated later, with a voice message in Hokkien, claiming that the police issued his friend this compound for letting her daughter sit next to her.

 

RM1K CMCO Fine For Sitting Side By Side In Car : Bullshit!

This is yet another hoax, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Two Persons Are Allowed To Go Out Together

The Malaysian National Security Council (MKN) released these SOPs for three regions under CMCO / PKPB lockdown :

The three SOPs state clearly that two persons per household are allowed to go out together to purchase food and essentials.

Fact #2 : There Is No Limit On Commercial Vehicles

According to the MKN SOP, there is no new limit on vehicles carrying goods and providing essential services, including those involved in business and industrial activities.

The number of people in such vehicles are limited to what’s allowed by the commercial vehicle licence.

For example, if a delivery van is licensed for up to 3 people, then 3 people may sit together in that delivery van.

Fact #3 : Taxis + E-hailing Vehicles Are Limited To 2 Passengers

The MKN SOP specifically limits taxis and e-hailing vehicles to 2 passengers.

That means a total of 3 people are allowed in a car, and two of them will definitely be sitting side by side.

So it will not be logical for the police to issue a CMCO fine for people sitting side by side in any vehicle.

Fact #4 : No Requirement For A Passenger To Sit Behind The Driver

For the police to issue a fine, it must be specifically forbidden in the CMCO / PKPB SOP for two persons to sit side by side in a vehicle.

There is no such requirement in the CMCO / PKPB SOP, so it is not possible for the police to issue such a fine.

Fact #5 : That Man Was Fined For Not Socially Distancing In A Restaurant

My eagle-eyed friend, Jory, pointed out that the man was actually fined for not socially distancing himself in a restaurant.

We zoomed into the police compound, and we can see where the offence took place – Restoran Shada Maju.

A quick check on Google Maps gave us the address of this restaurant :

121, Jalan Tengku Badar, Port Klang, Selangor

And guess what was written at the upper right corner of the police compound? The very same address!

Under the MKN SOPs that were first issued, only two persons may sit at the same table if they are dining in a restaurant.

The police is empowered to issue a RM 1,000 fine to those who flout this social distancing rule during the CMCO period.

According to the compound, that was why this man was fined RM 1,000 on 14 October 2020 – the first day of the CMCO lockdown in Selangor.

Only on 15 October 2020 did Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announce that larger tables in restaurants may seat up to 4 people at the same time.

Fact #6 : That Lady Was Fined For Not Wearing A Face Mask

The lady’s compound was not for letting her daughter sit next to her in the car, but rather – for not wearing a face mask outside an air-conditioning shop in Rawang Mutiara.

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe from COVID-19 :

Recommended : Soap vs Sanitiser : Which Works Better Against COVID-19?
Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To CORRECTLY Wear + Remove!
Recommended : COVID-19 Food Safety : Fruits, Vegetables, Takeouts

 

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