Is Victoria’s Secret an essential service, asks Najib

KUALA LUMPUR – “Is luxury underwear also a necessity during the movement control order period?” was the public riposte today by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

His criticism of the administration’s policies continued today as he questioned their decision to allow most businesses to continue operating during the MCO.

The latest in Najib’s sights was American luxury lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret, as he noted comments today by several users on a Facebook post he made yesterday, in which he had questioned the need for the Perikatan Nasional administration to allow retailers such as Ikea and Habib Jewels to open their outlets, categorised as essential services.

“Yesterday, I noticed some users on my comment space who vigorously defended the PN government’s decision to allow Ikea and goldsmiths to be opened during the MCO, which should have tighter restrictions,” he said in a post today, adding various reasons were given.

Among the reasons he listed include that furniture stores were opened because there may be a need to replace furniture that was destroyed in the floods, and that goldsmiths were open because several gold shops also accept gold trades, necessary because there may be those who need immediate cash.

Najib added that he looked forward to hearing the excuses given by Facebook users over the decision to allow high-end lingerie outlets such as Victoria’s Secret to operate during the MCO.

Yesterday, the Pekan MP had aired his grouses that the government allowed factories and construction sites to be classified as essential services despite being the largest contributors of Covid-19 cases in the country at numerous locations.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday announced that the MCO would be reintroduced in six states, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, Melaka, Selangor, and Sabah until January 26.

Comparatively, this round of MCO has allowed numerous exemptions compared with the previous MCO imposed last March which brought the country almost to a standstill. – The Vibes, January 16, 2021