Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's 100-day report card event yesterday has scored an "F" among critics who said the government was endangering public health by hosting a crowded function.
The four-day event held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was packed yesterday, with those attending mostly ignoring physical distancing measures meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the event reflected poorly on the government and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin - who attended the event - as they had previously advised the public to avoid crowded places and observe Covid-19 SOPs.
"A lackadaisical commitment to remain steadfast to adherence to SOPs exudes the actual nature of a government that places popularity and pompous show of support, above safety, health and well-being of the rakyat.
"This is extremely irresponsible and regrettable," Dzulkefly said when contacted.
He said while restarting and reopening social activities were needed, it should be done safely and that the government should not ignore their own advice, especially in light of the ever-present threat of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
"Now that the report card unveiling has been badly organised, particularly on the lack of observing physical distancing, I've no choice but to give the prime minister a big fat F!" Dzulkefly added.
The prime minister had given his cabinet an overall score of 90 percent in their 100-day report card - which would be an "A".
Meanwhile, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said the report card event was a throwback to the movement control order when the government often practised double standards in enforcing and practising SOPs.
"If they can't even be bothered doing things right in public, God knows what they do in private," she told Malaysiakini.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said the report card was completely unnecessary and sent the wrong message to the public.
"If the government can't follow their own SOPs, how can they expect others to do so?
"They are sending the wrong message that we are out of the woods when we are clearly not," he said.
Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Najwan Halimi said action must be taken against the event's organisers for the SOP failure.
"What action will the Health Ministry take? We demand stern action be taken against the organiser. Such things should not have happened," he said.
The Shared Prosperity Delivery Unit, or Sepadu, which organised the event, has defended its crowd control efforts.
They said they have already outlined a strict set of SOPs based on the National Security Council's orders, but that individual compliance has been a challenge faced by every programme organiser.
Separately, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) operations director Dr Mathen Nair questioned why the government could hold such an event when it plans to restrict Thaipusam celebrations.
"What is the need for stopping a religious event next month when the current ones with political motive can go on.
"We just had a grand Keluarga Malaysia report card day in a middle of a variant of concern breakout.
"If such event can be held in close space, then Thaipusam can be held as well with proper SOP and small scale," he said. - Mkini
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