KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians are up in arms over Senior Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali’s interstate travel for a gotong-royong programme in Johor.
Photos of him washing the floor of a surau in Sg Rengit, Pengerang in Johor that was recently hit by flood, were shared on Bernama’s official Twitter account this afternoon, accompanied by an article of a RM100,000 federal funding to improve the drainage system there.
RM100,000 untuk selenggara sistem perparitan di Pengerang - Mohamed Azmin https://t.co/VKCpkVknqX @AzminAli pic.twitter.com/MICfg42VAn
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) January 17, 2021
A separate picture of him having a meal with several individuals during the programme, without any noticeable 1m gap, has also made its round on social media.
Unimpressed, Malaysians have slammed the international trade and industry minister for violating the movement control order (MCO) that bars interstate and inter-district travel as well as social gatherings.
“So I heard there is a ‘makan-makan’ in Pengerang?” PKR youth chief and Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasir asked on Twitter.
Khabarnya ada makan-makan di Pengerang?
— Akmal Nasir (@akmalnasir) January 17, 2021
Bukankah PKP rakyat biasa nak makan di kedai pon tak boleh?
Adakah sebab Menteri?#KalahKalah#Darurat pic.twitter.com/4soDJdVCgo
Many netizens questioned how the minister was allowed to cross state lines and if a separate set of rules are being applied to VIPs, noting the strict enforcement of the MCO on others.
“So many questions. Why allow interstate travelling? Can gotong-royong be held during MCO?” asked @elleharis, while also tagging Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Health minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
Twitter user @Iskandar_Boom said: “Azmin is blessed, he has a strong license to travel to any states as he wishes. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) can be put aside. Supposedly, all of you (elected representatives) should lead by example. only then will the rakyat respect.”
User @acemanakafain posted: “Perikatan Nasional (PN) laws only apply to the marhaen.”
Another user @mzhan1411 said: “What kind of MCO is this if you can travel across states? Keep reminding us rakyat (to obey SOPs) for what? Do it yourself. Are leaders immune to Covid-19?”
Others also cried foul over the consistent double standards being practiced by the government and authorities.
Meanwhile, in a separate article, Bernama quoted Azmin as saying that his ministry’s flood relief mission today has been approved by the National Security Council. – The Vibes, January 17, 2021
