by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / Pic by TMR FILE PIX

THE Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) will issue compound up to RM10,000 against businesses that failed to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

Deputy director of enforcement (operations) Shamsul Nizam Khali said the agency is committed with the government in combating Covid-19 by monitoring and inspection the SOPs under Act 342 on 22 new trade and distribution sub-sectors that are allowed to operate for the states under Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the NRP under the implementation of Ops Samar.

“We have engaged all enforcement officers to perform daily monitoring and inspections nationwide to ensure the SOPs are being followed.

“This is to guarantee that these sectors do not contribute to the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country,” Shamsul Nizam said in a statement.

KPDNHEP has issued 839 compounds worth RM4.5 million for offenders following inspections carried out nationwide since May 13.

Some 732,893 premises were inspected nationwide until yesterday.

Shamsul Nizam said in general, traders in the country have adopted the new norm and the compliance rate among them is 98.7%.

However, he said only over 1% of the traders are still errant and reluctant to comply with the SOPs despite having been told several times.

“The opening of these sectors is a jointly balanced effort and responsibility for the purpose of boosting and reviving the domestic economic ecosystem, however, it is not an uncontrolled freedom for traders to ignore the SOPs that have been set,” he said.