Cops explain why health officer told Syed Saddiq to halt food bank

 

Johor police have come forward to explain why Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was instructed to close his food bank initiative yesterday.

Speaking during a broadcasted press conference this afternoon, state police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said Syed Saddiq did not have permission to distribute supplies from his service centre.

He also clarified that it was a district health officer, not the police, who advised Syed Saddiq to shut the programme after “more than a hundred” gathered there without physical distancing.

“From what I understand, Syed Saddiq did seek permission but the permission was to distribute items from house to house.

“But what happened instead was that the distribution was done from his service centre in Muar. This caused many to gather, more than a hundred people.

“So first of all, he did not apply for permission from the disaster operations control centre (PKOB) to hold a programme at his service centre. Secondly, when many gathered without any social distancing, the district health officer went to the area and instructed that the programme be stopped,” Ayob said.

Yesterday, the opposition politician claimed that police had asked him to close his “office” from today onwards due to crowds.

Syed Saddiq said he was upset at being barred from helping his struggling constituents, adding that he was willing to defy instructions and be fined as long as he could distribute essentials to them.

The MP further stressed that he and his team had followed all standard operating procedures (SOPs) but could not turn away those in need.

Ayob said today that police will not be penalising Syed Saddiq for the programme but said he had been issued a “warning” by the district health officer.

“If any MPs or local assemblypersons want to hold programmes, they can.

“But please follow the National Security Council procedures and SOPs.

“Apply for formal permission from the PKOB. Then we can carry out monitoring and the like,” he said.

Malaysiakini has contacted Syed Saddiq for further comment.  - Mkini