LETTER | Umno must take accountability for Covid -19 SOP violation
LETTER | As the trial and conviction of the former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak rolled on in the courtroom, hundreds of his supporters were gathered at the vicinity of the courthouse.
From the file photos seen in press reports and online portals as well as the many videos that filled social media platforms, the sea of red attire cannot be dismissed.
The supporters who came in droves as far off as the Pekan MP’s constituency in Pahang were undeniable - going by the party colour of Umno, members of the party too...
LETTER | As the trial and conviction of the former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak rolled on in the courtroom, hundreds of his supporters were gathered at the vicinity of the courthouse.
From the file photos seen in press reports and online portals as well as the many videos that filled social media platforms, the sea of red attire cannot be dismissed.
The supporters who came in droves as far off as the Pekan MP’s constituency in Pahang were undeniable - going by the party colour of Umno, members of the party too.
Surely ordinary individuals on their own effort would not have made that epic journey to be in Kuala Lumpur just for a day.
That trip must have been "organised" in a systematic manner with travel and accommodation plus meal costs too.
What was most disheartening was the total disregard for the SOPs still in place in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic.
A political party that allowed (or deliberately organised) its members (or supporters and sympathisers) to gather without any regard whatsoever for social distancing is guilty of violating the laws on this country and the Health Ministry’s determination to save the people.
The leaders of the Umno party must be held accountable. They cannot play innocent or cry, “the people came on their own even though we told them not to do so”.
From the various statements in media made by certain leaders of the party in response to the citizens’ concern over the SOP violations, it is crystal clear that the gathering of people at the courthouse was indeed relished by leaders.
A political party that is jostling to be the next government with its leaders already in the PN government - as MPs and holding cream posts in GLCs, cannot behave so irresponsibly by allowing its members (and supporters) to break the SOPs in this Covid-19 environment.
Not only are the leaders setting a bad trend but they have made a mockery of the Security Council’s unceasing efforts to keep Malaysia in a safer mode as the dreaded coronavirus‘ second wave is already threatening the world.
Worse by allowing or seeming to play non-involvement in the crowd gathering at the courthouse, the leaders and their henchmen have revealed their care-a-less attitude for the welfare and health of the simplistic rakyat.
Hopefully, the powers that be will take immediate and appropriate action for this gross misconduct.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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