So, it is no surprise that with the Chinese New Year celebrations around the corner, the government announced a special set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of the virus.
The only problem is, netizens have slammed the government for coming up with SOPs that do not entirely make sense.
Do's and don'ts
On Wednesday (4 February), Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced several SOPs when it comes to celebrating Chinese New Year.According to The Star Online, the SOPs drawn up by the National Security Council (NSC) include confining reunion dinners and prayers to family members living in the same house.
House-to-house visits and cross-border travels are also not allowed.
Ismail Sabri added that prayers at temples are also not allowed, except for five of the temple's committee members.
The SOPs were issued after proper consideration and taking into account the high number of daily active COVID-19 cases, Ismail Sabri said.
Here's a helpful infographic from Bernama to further help you understand the SOPs:
A big flaw?
On the same day the CNY SOPs were announced, Ismail Sabri also announced that three business activities will now be allowed to operate beginning Friday (5 February).Hair salons, car wash premises and yes, even pasar malam, can now stay open until 10pm daily.
The announcement drew massive flak from Opposition lawmakers, who questioned the logic and sensibility in allowing pasar malam to open till late at night but barring family members from getting together to have their customary reunion dinners.
Netizens chime in
On the other side of social media, netizens came out in full force to criticise the government for not thinking through the list of SOPs.A lot of netizens were questioning whether the government knows how the Chinese New Year celebrations work, and they collectively slammed the government for allowing pasar malam to operate while saying no to reunion dinners.
(In case you're not really sure, reunion dinners are usually held on the eve of the first day of Chinese New Year, which falls on 11 February this year)
Chinese New Year 12 and 13 Feb. Reunion dinner 11 Feb.
— Khalid Madu Asli Yemen (@khalids) February 5, 2021
SOP 12 dan 13 Feb. (rujuk bawah)
So boleh je reunion dinner. pic.twitter.com/OxRtowwg0B
Ehhh, reunion dinners are on Chinese New Year eve. And this is SOP for 12-13th Feb. So can gather on 11th, Kan?
— Diane Lee (@deariediane) February 4, 2021
Maybe they don’t know how CNY works... pic.twitter.com/jp5lKQ84dR
The new SOP for Chinese New Year is so fucking dumb. What if we all go to pasar malam for our reunion? Like what kind of logic is this?!#malaysia #ChineseNewYear2021
— spx (@spx6ix) February 4, 2021
Yup, clearly this person has 0% on what "Reunion Dinner" or Chinese New Year means when he/she draft this SOP.
— KM Yang (@kmyang_official) February 4, 2021
Heck, maybe the whole damn team who were in charge on drafting this SOP https://t.co/luhPIm7h2r
. @IsmailSabri60 @MuhyiddinYassin The SOP for Chinese New Year really doesn't make sense! pic.twitter.com/4b6Je5DoOz
— ?? ?? (@briarauroraros) February 4, 2021
Di atas adalah kisah seorang abang yang pulang dari Bandaraya Bilik ke Kampung Ruang Tamu untuk Chinese New Year.
— Mo Nazmi Ahmad (@MOnazmiahmad) February 4, 2021
Dia mengikut SOP dan menziarah ahli keluarga di dalam rumah yang sama
i don't get this Chinese new year SOP, you can only eat with the person living in the same house. isn't that what we are doing all along? also, it's not call a reunion dinner if everyone from the same house anyway
— Vynix (@VynixJerry_) February 4, 2021
shwsjwh idk if i should feel offended or laugh at the chinese new year sop. they have literally never interacted with one chinese person ??
— ☀️ (@jjunibrew) February 4, 2021
Whatever the case may be, let's all have a safe CNY, yeah?
Let's continue to do our part and hopefully next year, we get to celebrate CNY like old times.