Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob launches the Malaysia Deepavali Open House 2021. Also present are Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must never take Covid-19 lightly as doing so will cause the pandemic to continue limiting our freedom, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Prime Minister said everybody must keep adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and never take the threat of Covid-19 for granted.
“If we are negligent, this pandemic will continue to curtail our freedom,” he said in his speech when launching the Malaysia Deepavali Open House 2021 at the Malaysia Tourism Centre along Jalan Ampang here on Saturday night (Nov 13).
Ismail Sabri said compared to last year, Malaysians were able to celebrate an extra joyous Deepavali in the new normal, seeing that the government had allowed interstate travel.
“Some were able to go back to their hometowns to visit their relatives," said Ismail Sabri
“This is due to the success of our National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which has enabled the people to enjoy the loosening of restrictions in the economic and social sectors in stages,” he added.
Ismail Sabri added that the vaccination rate had reached 95.1% of adults in the country as of Friday (Nov 12).
He also urged Malaysians to keep the Malaysian Family spirit alive in conjunction with Deepavali to strengthen unity among all races in the nation.
Ismail Sabri said the government is committed to taking care of all races in the country to ensure nobody is left behind, including the Indian community.
He added that under Budget 2022, the government had allocated RM145mil to strengthen the socio-economic status of the Indian community.
Ismail Sabri also said that another RM50mil is allocated for the maintenance and small development works for places of worship in locations under local authorities.
Similarly, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the diverse races living in Malaysia harmoniously are the country’s unique identity and is one of the nation's main attractions for tourists.
“It is also the key in reviving our tourism industry,” she added.
She said tonight’s Deepavali event was the first physical open house to be organised by the ministry since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March last year.
“We are aware that the pandemic is not over yet. This has caused many to be constantly on alert and cautious in participating in physical events in the new normal," said Nancy.
“As such, in holding this open house, the ministry has set mechanisms on visitors based on new norms, such as early online registration, followed by checks on vaccination status at entrances and reminders for all present to follow standard operating procedures,” she added.
Meanwhile, MIC president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran said the Malaysian Family concept was introduced in a timely manner and added that it reflected Malaysia’s unity among all races.
He also said that hopes that this year’s Deepavali celebration will bring everybody closer together.
Also present at the event was Ismail Sabri’s wife Datin Seri Muhaini Zainal Abidin and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim. - Star
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