Clarification: KPDNHEP Won't Fine People RM100,000 For Not Wearing SIRIM Certified Masks
The confusion, it appears, is due to the wording used in the ministry's official statement itself.
By Sadho Ram — 07 Apr 2022, 03:22 PM — Updated over 2 years ago
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) won't fine people who wear non-medical face masks without the MS SIRIM certification and labelling from SIRIM QAS International
The ministry will only be taking enforcement action against manufacturers and importers who fail to comply with the newly set safety standards that were gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking) of Non-Medical Face Mask Order 2022 under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 earlier this week.
An earlier SAYS report, based on coverage by New Straits Times and Bernama, had said that "individuals will be facing fines up to RM100,000 or three years in jail, or both".
The confusion, it appears, is due to the wording used in the ministry's official statement itself.
In the ministry's statement, while manufacturers and importers are specified as "company", no clarification is provided for "individuals"
Furthermore, the ministry's official statement offers no additional explanation. However, according to the latest New Straits Times report, "individuals" in the ministry's statement refers to "personnel in the business of manufacturing and importing non-medical face masks and not members of the public".
