The National Unity Ministry will appeal to the National Security Council (NSC) to review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Chinese New Year celebrations during the movement control order.
This comes after the government drew flak for issuing confusing SOPs which stated that family reunion dinners are only allowed among the same members in the same household and that house-to-house visitations are banned.
"After hearing the views and appeals of the Chinese community related to the family reunion dinner and the presence of worshipers at the temple, the ministry will raise these views with the NSC.
"Any changes to the SOPs for the Chinese New Year celebrations will be announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob," the ministry said in a statement today.
The ministry, however, pointed out that it had drafted the SOP for Chinese New Year celebrations after holding talks with 21 religious, Chinese cultural associations and relevant quarters on Jan 12 and 18 respectively.
They are the Malaysian Buddhist Association, Buddhist Missionaries Society Malaysia, Persatuan Agama Taoisme Malaysia, Lutheran Church of Malaysia, Association of Churches in Sarawak, Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association, Fo Guang Shan, Taoist Association of Malaysia, Christian Federation of Malaysia, New Evangelical Christian Foundation and Sabah Council of Churches.
Other NGOs included Huazhong Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce Malaysia (ACCIM) and Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri said the celebrations would be confined to members of the same household who are living together, at least for those outside Sarawak.
House-to-house visitations, interdistrict travel and interstate travel are all prohibited.
Likewise, prayers at temples are prohibited except for up to five members of the temple committee, and other members of the Chinese community are encouraged to perform their prayers at home instead.
Events such as lion dances, opera performances and Chingay parades are prohibited.
Chinese New Year falls on Feb 12 and is traditionally celebrated for 15 days.
Several politicians on both sides of the aisle have questioned the ban on family visits for the celebration when other business sectors are allowed to open.
National Unity Deputy Minister Ti Lian Ker also took to social media to vent his frustration on the SOP.
"This SOP must be quickly withdrawn and rectified. This is not an SOP but a forbidden city," said the MCA senator. - Mkini
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