By Mariam Mokhtar
IN the past two days, we heard about two traders being fined RM50,000 each. Both are devastated.
Two days ago, burger seller, Wan Mohd Faisal Wan Kadir, 38, from Kampung Rambutan Rendang, Kota Bharu, said he was visited by police at about 11.10pm when he was completing some orders.
He had already closed his stall and was preparing food for factory workers, before delivering the food to them, when policemen swooped in and slapped Wan with a RM50,000 fine.
The following night, a trader, Mohd Azizi Mohd Nor, who sells colek (a type of rojak) and operates the stall from the compound of his house in Kampung Chekok Tengah, Kota Bharu was slapped with a RM50,000 fine.
He had stopped business for the night and was cleaning up with his wife, Nik Norwati Nik Loh, when the police paid him a visit. Without making any enquiries, the police immediately issued a compound of RM50,000 for allegedly operating beyond hours.
“I was shocked and was lost for words when I saw the sum”, Mohd Azizi said. “It’s hard to even earn RM100 a night from selling colek as we’re only a small-time business in a village area.”
Both Mohd Azizi and Nik Norwati have had sleepless nights worrying about the fine. He works as a mechanic during the day, and helps his wife to sell mee celup on regular days and rojak at night during Ramadan to supplement his income.
In addition, the father of five also takes care of three nephews and nieces.
“Let’s not talk about RM50,000, even if it was reduced to RM10,000, I can’t afford to pay,” he added.
“I don’t have a choice. I’ll have to choose prison.”
These fines have highlighted an important issue. Many small businesses in Kelantan operate out of their homes and the distinction between operating a business and home is unclear.
Furthermore, these fines have exposed the double standards in prosecution. Elites, including ministers and celebrities, break the law and are not fined.
Worse, in some cases, the Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah will even issue statements to justify why a particular minister should not be fined or why ministers can have reduced quarantine period.
Under the Perikatan Nasional (PN), the poor suffer. – April 29, 2021
Mariam Mokhtar is a socio-political commentator.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Photo credit: Astro Awani and Sinar Harian
