Plainclothes Officers To Check Sop Compliance

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The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry said Op Samar will monitor customer-focused areas such as shopping malls and eateries.GEORGE TOWN: Enforcement officers in plainclothes will be on the prowl to ensure SOP compliance in 22 trade and distribution subsectors following several relaxations announced recently.
Domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry secretary-general Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad said this would be implemented under “Op Samar”, where 2,000 enforcement officers would pose as customers to ensure businesses do not violate SOPs under the various phases of the national recovery plan (PPN).
“A total of 22 trade and distribution subsectors have been given permission to reopen effective Aug 16, for individuals who are fully vaccinated.
“The opening of these sectors is a 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 told a press conference after visiting the retail industry vaccination programme (RiVAC) at Gurney Paragon here today.
He said stern action would be taken against non-compliance of the SOPs so that the safety and health of the people can be ensured in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hasnol said Op Samar would be carried out in customer-focused areas, such as shopping malls, eateries, barber shops and other economic sectors that involved the public.
“Premises owners and customers need to ensure that only those who have been fully vaccinated can do activities such as ‘dine-ins’.
“What can be said now is that your movements are being observed by the enforcement personnel,” he said.
Commenting on the RiVAC programme, he said it had received encouraging response from employers in the Klang Valley, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, and would be expanded to Kedah, Perak and Pahang soon.
He also said the ministry was still refining the capacity and number of people who want to be vaccinated under the RiVAC programme.
“Further discussions with the science, technology and innovation ministry will be held,” he added. - FMT

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