Minister says walking trio ‘coincidence’ after netizens point out SOP breach

 

• UPDATED: Includes Annuar Musa’s response saying he was walking alone but ran into the two others midway. 

Social media users have rapped Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa after he posted a photograph of him taking a walk in a group of three amidst the movement control order (MCO).

Annuar denied flouting standard operating procedures (SOPs) and said the three had walked alone before running into each other by coincidence. 

Under the MCO, only two types of outdoor activities are allowed - jogging and cycling. Joggers can either jog alone or in pairs within their housing areas.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin previously said only members from the same household could exercise outdoors together, but this requirement is not stated in National Security Council guidelines.

All states except Sarawak are presently under MCO.

Yesterday, Annuar tweeted an image of him walking outdoors with two others in an undisclosed location.

“Walk with me.

“This morning (with) former Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) mayor Nordin Razak and Nik Aminaldin Nik Jaafar,” he wrote.

Nik Aminaldin is a former treasurer of the Kelantan Football Association (Kafa), which Annuar used to head.

Dozens of Twitter users questioned if the Ketereh MP had violated MCO standard operating procedures (SOPs). Some even tagged the authorities to bring the matter to their attention.

Netizens also criticised the cabinet minister for setting a bad example when daily Covid-19 infections were at all-time highs.

Annuar: We walked individually

Following the backlash, Annuar denied breaking MCO SOPs and clarified that he, Nordin and Nik Aminaldin had run into each other while on their own individual walks.

“Three of us walked individually from our homes (and walked) on different routes.

“We just happened to meet,” he said when contacted.

He also tweeted in response to the criticism.

“Nordin walked alone and Aminaldin also walked alone.

“We bumped into each other coincidentally but we later went our separate ways. (There is) no issue,” he tweeted this evening.

Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, those who violate SOPs can be fined up to RM1,000.

The government is presently amending the Emergency Ordinance to raise the quantum of fines imposed on MCO SOP breaches in a bid to encourage more compliance.

Last year, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali made headlines for flouting home quarantine SOPs upon returning from an overseas trip. He was eventually fined but not charged in court.

Deputy Health Minister Noor Azmi Ghazali and Perak executive council member Razman Zakaria had also breached SOPs last year when they visited and ate in a school with an entourage. They were charged, convicted, and fined. - Mkini