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PETALING JAYA: There is still time for the government to review the SOPs for the Chinese New Year, says MCA.
MCA Spokesperson Mike Chong Yew Chuan (Photo) He said doing so would prove that the Perikatan Nasional government really listens to public opinion and prioritizes rakyat.
He said that while the Chinese community agreed that stricter standard operating procedures should be adopted to break the chain of Covid-19 infections, it expects their drafting and implementation to be consistent, uniform and fair.
The Chinese community, Chong added, was not demanding that the government approve interstate and interdistrict travel during the Chinese New Year.
“We fully understand that the motion control order is intended to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. In this context, we expect the government to formulate standard operating procedures that treat everyone uniformly, rather than proposing multiple standards in their execution,” which will result in public ridicule, “he said in a statement on Saturday (February 6).
In the recently announced SOPs for the upcoming Chinese New Year, Chong questioned the rationale for banning family members residing within the same district and under the 10 km requirement from gathering for the traditional reunion dinner on the eve, or reuniting at each other’s home during the celebration although they would not have violated the protocol on inter-state or inter-district travel.
“With people’s livelihoods in mind, the government has allowed some degree of respite, albeit with stricter standard operating procedures when it reopened most business sectors to strike a balance between people’s health and the economy.
“These include the restart of passing malam (night markets), car washes and hair salons / barber shops. Since night markets that usually draw large crowds can reopen, why are they relatives of the same family, residing in the same district? and less than 10 km, they are not allowed to have their annual family reunion dinners? “he said.
On Thursday (February 4), Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced a list of standard operating procedures for Chinese New Year, which, among others, stated that reunion dinners would be held only among members of the family in the same house and that the prayers in the temples were only allowed to take place with the presence of five members of the temple committee.
Following the criticism, Ismail Sabri said he was puzzled by the reaction when Chinese religious bodies and cultural associations participated in the preparation of the SOPs.
“However, if there is any change that the Ministry of National Unity wants to make after listening to the views of the public, it can make a presentation to the NSC (National Security Council) again for their consideration,” he said on Friday (February 5) .
Since then, the Ministry of National Unity had said it would forward appeals for SOP review to the NSC.
Chong said that while each religion has its particular rites and prayers, especially on major festive or religious occasions, a uniformed set of SOPs should be implemented in all.
“Since other religions are allowed to open their places of worship, where double digits or up to 500 followers or even more are allowed to gather to pray (depending on the SOPs of the respective states), why restrict the number of worshipers in places of worship? for the Chinese New Year to only five committee members? “he said.
“The main point I want to make is that the Chinese community is not demanding that the government relax the SOPs for the Chinese New Year. We are only asking the government not to show favoritism for one another in their formulation of SOPs, as currently, the people feel that the government practices double standards, “he said.
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