KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: People who have contracted the A(H1N1) flu but withhold this information from the authorities will risk being fined or jailed.

"We have no choice but to be stricter as this is the only way to keep the disease from spreading further," Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.

Those who contracted the disease overseas but withheld the information could be charged under the Disease Prevention Act, 1988 and are liable to a RM10,000 (S$4,122) fine or two years" jail or both.

Liow was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of an MoU between International Specialist Eye Centre and Sau Seng Lum Dialysis & Stroke Rehabilitation Centre at the specialist centre here yesterday.

"I am issuing this warning to all those affected by this disease to be truthful and provide us with the relevant information. Tell us what happened, whom you have contracted the disease from."

At a separate function in Putrajaya, Liow said a social distancing programme would only be initiated if there were many A(H1N1) cases in an area.

"For example, only people living in the same community or going to the same school as the patient will be placed under quarantine," he told a press conference yesterday.

The programme, which includes the closing of schools or banning of social gatherings, could be started upon the endorsement of the National Inter-ministerial Committee on the Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic and it could only be declared by the National Security Council.

Earlier, Liow met with MCA's National Crisis Relief Squad, Malaysia Youth Council, Hindu Youth Organisation, Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung and Young Buddhist Association to discuss efforts in raising awareness on the disease. -The Star/ANN