BY MARTIN CARVALHO, YUEN MEIKENG, RAHIMY RAHIM, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND TAN YI LIANG
SEVERAL Bills were tabled for first reading, including a proposed amendment to the Electricity Supply Act which could see domestic users being fined up to RM1mil for stealing electricity and meter tampering.
Under Clause 28 of the Electricity Supply (Amendment) Bill, non-domestic users found guilty of such offences might also be forking out up to a whopping RM5mil fine.
Previously, both domestic and non-domestic users face the same punishment, which is a maximum fine of RM100,000 or up to a jail term of three years or both.
Under this Bill, in addition to the fines, both may now be jailed for up to 10 years or both.
Repeat offenders among domestic users could face up to a RM100,000 fine or three years jail.
The Bill will increase the penalties for those whose negligence during the installation or provision of equipment cause harm to another or damage property, with the fines raised from RM50,000 to RM100,000 and a jail time of five years.
Under the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill, firms providing airport and aviation services face heftier fines for breaching their licence conditions, from RM100,000 to RM500,000.
The Bill, which was tabled for first reading by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, also gives Civil Aviation Department officers carrying out enforcement, inspection and investigation to be vested with the same powers as provided to the police under the Criminal Procedure Code. However, they will not have the power to make arrests without warrant.
Anyone failing to comply or giving false or misleading information, evidence or documents under an order by an enforcement officer can be fined up to RM500,000, jailed three years or both.
The Bill also makes it an offence to tip off others about a probe, which can see a fine of up to RM3mil or five years in jail or both.
Among others, the Bill seeks to widen the definition of aerodromes and airports to include facilities, roads and car parks.
Dewan Rakyat also saw three other proposed laws – the Judges’ Remuneration (Amendment) Bill, the Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill and the Police (Amendment) Bill – which will see the pension of judges and army personnel and the salaries of police officers transferred to pay for their housing debts under the Public Sector Home Financing Board.
