Kit Siang wants public apology from PM over flouting of SOPs
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should apologise for the "shameful" flouting of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the government's event to celebrate the 100-day unveiling of the Keluarga Malaysia slogan, said Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.
Lim echoed criticism by Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai who questioned if the government's key performance index for the 100 days was to drive up the number of Covid-19 cases.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should apologise for the "shameful" flouting of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the government's event to celebrate the 100-day unveiling of the Keluarga Malaysia slogan, said Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.
Lim echoed criticism by Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Koh Kar Chai who questioned if the government's key performance index for the 100 days was to drive up the number of Covid-19 cases.
Koh had lamented the government's overdrive in seeking publicity at the event despite ongoing concerns about the Delta and Omicron Covid-19 variants which are highly contagious.
The four-day event at KLCC, which started on Dec 9, was meant to celebrate the government's 100-day report card. Ismail Sabri had given his government a score of 90 percent.
"The minister responsible for the programme should be required to resign and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri should tender a public apology to all Malaysians for the shameful flouting of the Covid-19 SOPs at the event.
"If the prime minister does not buck up in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, how can the cabinet buck up in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic?
"And yet, Ismail Sabri could give a score of 90 percent for the cabinet’s 100-day performance, making Malaysia the new target of the world's jokes and humiliation," Lim said in a statement.
The government had been sending out tone-deaf text messages in the run-up to the event, urging the public to turn up in droves to celebrate the government's 100-day performance.
Large crowds eventually thronged the event and this prompted the Health Ministry to issue an RM1,000 fine against the event organiser for SOP violation.
The carnival was organised by the Shared Prosperity Delivery Unit, or Sepadu, which is an agency under the Prime Minister's Department.
‘Chicken feed’ fine
Lim described the fine as "chicken feed". The Health Ministry had said the RM1,000 fine is the maximum allowed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).
"It is the height of the ludicrous to impose a ‘chicken-feed’ fine of RM1,000 for the massive breaches of the Covid-19 SOPs at the 100-day programme," Lim said.
Previously, the maximum fine was RM10,000 for individuals and RM50,000 for companies under the state of emergency.
However, the emergency had since been lifted and the emergency ordinances which allowed for higher fines repealed.
Lim said the lack of seriousness highlights why Malaysia had been struggling to reduce daily Covid-19 cases to below 4,000 a day in the last seven months.
In contrast, he pointed out that Indonesia has been reporting triple digits of daily Covid-19 for three months since Oct 15.
Health Ministry's advice
Meanwhile, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng asked if the Health Ministry had advised Ismail Sabri prior to the event.
"Surely, Ismail Sabri would have consulted his cabinet before organising the event, and how did Khairy respond to the suggestion?
"Knowing that the turnout would certainly cause a problem in terms of social distancing, why was this event allowed? Why wasn’t a hybrid event conducted?" he asked.
The DAP lawmaker also noted there were complaints about double standards after the government announced Thaipusam processions won't be allowed due to Covid-19 but yet invited large crowds to the report card event.
The government had since said the SOP for Thaipusam is not finalised after criticisms.
"If all safety measures are put in place, why has the government not approved other events but allow this Aspirasi Keluarga mega event to proceed amidst the current pandemic?
"This clearly shows that the government has failed to set a good example for the people. It is also a case where the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing," he said.
READ MORE: Critics rue 'double standards' after slap on wrist for PM report card event
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