PKR fined RM10,000 for holding ‘no-crowd’ talk

31 Oct 2021 By Farah Salim KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has fell victim to the breaching of Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) compound for organising a talk that was seemingly crowdless. The party was slapped with RM10,000 fine for organising a mobile talk where leaders spoke with loudspeakers from a modified truck which also served as a stage in Malacca last night. It was understood that the talk was not campaigning for the state election, but was rather an “information programme” to educate voters on issues related to the state and Budget 2022. Its information chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the only ones who were at the scene are the speakers, party officials, media practitioners and police. Those who listened to the talk that only lasted for about 30 minutes were either following the speeches via livestream or from the porches of their homes, he added. Shamsul also reasoned that the mobile event was meant to prevent any physical contact and gatherings among the public. Hence, he called on Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to specify the detail of the social gathering ban during election campaigning period as it have caused confusion which resulted to fine issuances. “The party might also challenge the compound fine in court,” he revealed.