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PETALING JAYA: A government department has denied claims that local government and housing minister Zuraida Kamaruddin had violated Covid-19 rules at a cycling event on Saturday.
In a statement, the National Landscape Department said the event was not a “fun trip” as claimed on social media and that Covid-19 rules were followed at all times.
This comes after two lawyers and a parliamentarian asked authorities to carry out an independent investigation into the alleged violation of Zuraida’s motion control order (MCO) related to the event.
They said that the application of MCO regulations should be applied equally to everyone, after netizens flayed the Ampang deputy for participating in a prohibited activity under the current order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The department said the event was a permitted recreational activity under the MCO’s conditional rules.
“The activity was not a ‘fun ride’ as it was not open to the public nor was it a competition that involved spectators,” he said.
He said the 30 riders who participated were employees of the department and SWCorp. They also picked up trash while jogging.
“The Landscape Department always adheres to government instructions on SOPs,” he said, adding that all Covid-19 rules were met, including temperature scanning, physical distancing, and the use of hand sanitizers.
Zuraida had come under fire after a Facebook post showed her marking what appeared to be a “fun ride” on a bike in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
According to the National Security Council (MKN), not all activities involving large gatherings, which make it difficult to practice physical distancing, are not allowed.
They include fun runs, fun walks, marathons, and triathlons.
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