Malaysia authorities on the search for maskless woman who said 'it's a free country' at KL mall

[UPDATE Nov 1] The police identified the maskless woman and fined her RM3,000 (S$976) for two offences, reported New Straits Times.

In a statement on Oct 31, Dang Wangi district police chief assistant commissioner Noor Dellhan Yahaya said: “The first offence was for failure to adhere to the directive of the Health Director-General when the individual failed to scan the MySejahtera app when entering a premises in an area with internet coverage.

“The second offence was for failure to adhere to the directive of the Health Director-General by not wearing a face mask within the said premises.”

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Malaysia's Ministry of Health is looking into an incident where a woman was denied entry into a luxury retail outlet in Kuala Lumpur for refusing to mask up as reported in the Malay Mail.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted on Wednesday (Oct 27), that Malaysia's MOH is getting more information from shopping mall Suria KLCC, where the incident happened.

He wrote: “When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Malaysia, please mask up. Regardless of the rules elsewhere."

[embed]https://twitter.com/Khairykj/status/1453276261401382925[/embed]

On Oct 27, TikToker Jstzm uploaded a 13-seconds clip of the incident and it has amassed over 330,000 views and 1,500 comments.

[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@jstzm/video/7023609684665847066?_d=secCgwIARCbDRjEFSADKAESPgo8fPiA5gQj0xe3bv1U95zHWwrxb62EeCERm5GFxShBvY[/embed]

As the woman was walking towards the Dior store, she was denied entry for being maskless. This agitated her and two staff members attempted to pacify her.

In the video, she told them: "You can't stop me. It's a free country, you don't own this shop."

Another video, posted by the same TikToker had the woman getting more animated in her debate with the luxury retail outlet staff. This post garnered over 519,000 views and 1,400 comments.

[embed]https://www.tiktok.com/@jstzm/video/7023696685964512539?_d=secCgwIARCbDRjEFSADKAESPgo8fPiA5gQj0xe3bv1U95zHWwrxb62EeCERm5GFxShBvY[/embed]

"My kids Malaysian, my husband Malaysian. I know everything about this country," she said to a staff member.

Since August 2020, wearing of masks in public is compulsory in Malaysia. Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, those flouting the mandatory ruling can be fined up to RM1,000 (S$325).

ALSO READ: 16-week jail for woman who refused to wear mask at MBS and other public places

amierul@asiaone.com