Federal SOP on Chinese New year a joke, says Sebastian Ting

suppadmin | February 5, 2021

The idea of just allowing family members living in the same house to celebrate reunion dinner while prohibiting other family members living nearby from joining the reunion dinner is utterly preposterous and perhaps a joke, said Piasau State Assemblyman, Datuk Sebastian Ting.

“Where is the “reunion” if you are just going to eat with the same family members that you are eating with everyday? It will only be another ordinary dinner. Nothing extraordinary. Yesterday announcement by the Federal Senior Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on COVID-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Chinese New Year celebrations next week was shocking, insensitive and to certain extent culturally clueless of how Chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year every year, ” he added.

Ting said it is mind blogging to see Federal government coming out with half-baked SOPs that allow night markets to operate but prohibit reunion dinner among family members living nearby and wondered how a reunion dinner amongst family members is going to pose bigger risk than the night markets where you have hundreds of random people walking around the night markets visiting from stall to stall? It really defies logic.

“We are thankful that Sarawak Government, through Sarawak Disaster Management Committee did not follow or implement the Federal SOP for Chinese New Year celebration, especially the new year eve’s reunion dinner, which is an auspicious evening for the Chinese.

We are indeed very fortunate that the SOPs by our State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) allows family reunion dinner on the eve, 11th Feb, though limiting to only 20 family members living nearby to celebrate together at home but still a wonderful and meaningful reunion dinner, ” he added.

He said although he understood the Federal government’s intention to curb the spread of Covid-19, the SOPs seriously have to make sense and fitting with the Chinese cultural celebration. I hope the Federal government can quickly review and amend their SOPs for the Chinese New Year celebration.

We know we are all looking forward to get together during the Chinese New Year as many had not been able to meet face to face for almost a year since the nationwide MCO. Nevertheless, we sincerely hope and urge everyone will continue to look after the safety of yourself, your loved ones and continue to practise the SOPs laid down by SDMC during the Chinese New Year celebrations.