What about Covid-19 SOPs, opposition blasts PM’s crowded event

KUALA LUMPUR – For the opposition, not all are equal before the law – especially after organisers of a government event promoted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was fined just RM1,000 for flouting Covid-19 SOPs. 

It also did not escape the notice of opposition lawmakers that the 100-Day Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was held to celebrate the government’s achievements since Ismail Sabri took over.

Speaking to The Vibes, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the compound amount is a “disgrace and mockery” to all Malaysians who have had to pay more substantial compounds or even been sent to jail over similar offences. 

Urging the government to review the fine, the Lembah Pantai MP said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who had attended the event a day before the penalty was issued, should have “done the right thing” by not showing up at all.

“I don’t think this event even needed to take place. I think what they should have done is perhaps just hold an online event,” he said, adding that the crowd management efforts revealed a “shockingly poor plan”.

“People were packed together with no physical distance whatsoever. Even ministers and their entourages were walking around as if Covid-19 is on holiday and there are no Omicron cases in Malaysia. 

“They were acting as if everything was back to normal, which is not the case as we can see that the numbers of daily Covid-19 infections are slowly creeping up.” 

Fahmi also compared the event’s lackadaisical SOPs with the restrictions that were imposed on campaigners and political parties during the November Melaka election. 

The SOPs that were applied in Melaka were meant to stifle democracy whereas the SOPs for the KLCC event defied all warnings and cautions emphasised by Khairy, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, and the Health Ministry.”

“The absolute lack of regard for what people have gone through since the beginning of the pandemic shows that this administration is 90% a failure.” 

During the event’s launch, Ismail Sabri announced his assessment of his own cabinet, saying that ministers scored 90% in their overall performance in the first 100 days of his administration. 

Meanwhile, PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin voiced similar criticisms, saying, “The planning of the event was not detailed enough to the point where the lives of people have been put in danger.

“Proper floor management and crowd control should have been a no-brainer for the organisers as they should have expected a huge crowd to turn up for the summons discount.

“If this lack of regard for SOPs is the example set by the government, then do not blame the people if they simply emulate what has been portrayed,” he told The Vibes. 

Shamsul also asserted that such a large-scale celebration was unnecessary and only highlighted the lack of seriousness on the part of the government to address key problems faced by the nation. 

It should be the government’s priority to provide solutions to issues troubling citizens nowadays, such as the recent surge in prices for staple foods. A big event like this will only divert attention from more pressing matters.” 

Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan said the compound is another addition to Ismail Sabri’s poor performance so far. 

“With the government attempting to please everyone while also trying to appear strict, the event simply backfired. 

“When the government is fined, it is the taxpayers’ money that is used to pay the fine. This is ridiculous and adds on to the failures within Ismail Sabri’s first 100 days,” he said, adding that a stronger message would be to cancel the event.

On police and Road Transport Department summons discount counters set up as part of the programme, he said they caused unnecessary crowding. 

“As expected, portals that allow road users to pay online crashed due to the departments being unable to handle the large volume of users trying to pay their summons.”

Yesterday, Khairy ordered the immediate closure of said counters for breaching Covid-19 SOPs. However, the 100-Day Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia programme, which runs from Thursday until tomorrow, is still ongoing.

He said RM1,000 is the maximum compound value that can be imposed on individuals and organisations following the repeal of the emergency ordinances in the Dewan Negara on December 8.

However, this contrasts with five-figure compounds issued by the authorities to businesses over SOP breaches. – The Vibes, December 11, 2021