KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizul Azumu questioned the decision to reopen cinemas, but not resume gym and certain sports activities for Phase 1 states.
In a tweet today, Faizal took a swipe at cabinet colleague Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin over the relaxation of certain standard operating procedures.
“Cinema opened?? Gym and outdoor sports?? Pls YB @Khairykj, there needs to be wisdom in our decisions,” Faizal tweeted.
Cinema opened?? Gym and outdoor sports?? Pls YB @Khairykj , there need be wisdom in our decisions.
— Faizal Azumu (@PejaOfPerak) September 8, 2021
“The Youth and Sports Ministry recommended that outdoor sports and gyms open. The power lies with the National Security Council. I hope the Health Ministry will support this.”
KBS telah cadangkan agar sukan padang (outdoor sports) dan gimnasium dibuka. Kuasa ada pada MKN. Harap KKM sokong.
— Faizal Azumu (@PejaOfPerak) September 8, 2021
Faizal’s tweets also garnered a number of responses from netizens. Some pointed out his lack of professionalism for making public his complaints, while others chimed in with their own frustrations.
“Just send a WhatsApp message. Are you just tweeting to make it seem like you're working?" @aaididAdli commented.
Whatsapp je laa. Saja tweet nak bagi nampak buat kerja ke?
— AIDID™ (@aaididAdli) September 8, 2021
Twitter user @ashriqbasri commented that this habit of ministers communicating with each other on social media is a uniquely Malaysian phenomenon.
“What kind of professional minister texts other ministers like this? This is the level of ministers we have in Malaysia.”
However, others expressed their frustrations over the restrictions applied to sporting activities.
“Please open futsal courts, my shoes are rotting and getting eaten by termites,” @realmeruz tweeted.
Futsal open please....kasut dh nk reput dh ni dek makan anai2...
— bymeruz (@realmeruz) September 8, 2021
“I am missing the gym. Push this for your 100 days achievement,” @Ji_Eunishappy said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced SOP relaxations for the creative industry, including the reopening of cinemas, with restrictions starting tomorrow.
However, cinemas allowed to resume operations tomorrow can only do so at 50% capacity for customers who are fully vaccinated.
Under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan, currently only fully vaccinated individuals can partake in recreational and sporting activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, cycling, golfing, and singles badminton and table tennis.
On August 23, the Gymnasium Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia said their appeals to reopen gyms for the fully vaccinated to the government were rejected because they operate in indoor premises. – The Vibes, September 8, 2021