The Star
7/2/2021
PETALING JAYA: Chinese groups, which attended a meeting with the government to draft rules for the coming Lunar New Year celebrations, say they were not told of the eventual decision.
These associations claimed that they were caught off guard with the standard operating procedure that was announced on Thursday by Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
To clear the air, Malaysian Han Cultural Association president Datuk Goh Hin San, who was present at both meetings with the National Unity Ministry on Jan 12 and 18, said the ministry had taken note of their proposals which would be relayed to the National Security Council (NSC).
“The ministry has been very good actually. They said they would pass on the proposals to the NSC.
“But it must be pointed out that we only gave them suggestions, no decisions were made.
“This must be made clear; we don’t have the power to make any decision.
“The decision was made by the NSC, so the NSC cannot blame us, ” he said.
The SOP, which stipulated that only those living under the same roof could be present for the reunion dinner and prayers, caused an uproar within the community especially those whose family members live nearby.
Prayers at temples are also not allowed except for five of the respective temple committee members.
Lion dance, lantern procession, Chingay and other stage performances are prohibited.
Cross-border travel is not permitted.
Ismail Sabri subsequently said he was puzzled by the criticism over the SOP.
According to him, discussions were held with the respective religious and cultural bodies.
However, Goh, when contacted yesterday, said he was baffled with the SOP on reunion dinners being limited only to people living in the same house.
“That is not our suggestion. We are not foolish, ” he said.
In giving his version on what transpired during the Jan 12 meeting, Goh said the National Unity Ministry had allowed for lion dance performances on the first and second day of Chinese New Year but the association proposed that it be permitted on Bai Tian Gong (birth of the Jade Emperor, which is celebrated on the eighth night of the New Year), and Chap Goh Meh (which falls on the 15th day).
For the reunion dinner, Goh said Sarawak had already made a decision to allow 20 people for CNY celebrations, so the association proposed a similar ruling.
But during the Jan 18 meeting, he said the Covid-19 situation in the country had become more serious and coupled with MCO 2.0, they agreed that there would not be any lion dance performances.
“But we insisted that for 15 days from the reunion dinner up to Chap Goh Meh, family dinners can be held for 20 people, subject to the SOP in place, ” he said.
Federation of Taoist Associations Malaysia president Tan Hoe Chieow, who attended the Jan 12 meeting that was held via Zoom, said: “There were initial suggestions to limit festive visits to 20 people, depending on the size of the house.
“We also talked about the government limiting temple prayers to only five committee members.
“We gave our views and input but we were never informed of the final decision, ” he said.
Following a public backlash on the SOP, Tan said he received a call from a ministry official on Friday asking for his views.
“I believe the term ‘serumah’ in the SOP was inappropriate, as it means under one roof.
“So if my mother lives separately in another nearby house, we would not be able to have a reunion dinner together, ” he said.
The proper term, he said, should be “sekeluarga” (in the family).
Tan, who is also the vice-president of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, said the government should let devotees offer their prayers at the temple though the number should be limited.
“I believe the Chinese community is aware of the importance to have this MCO and the need to follow the SOP. Many are prepared for a scaled-down festive season to break the chain of infection, ” he added.
Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce vice-president Datuk Joseph Lim, who was present during the Jan 12 meeting, stressed that there was no discussion on the reunion dinner but merely on the SOP on association gatherings and lion dance performances.
“It was very clear that the meeting that day was to gather our views. There was nothing on the reunion dinner, ” he said.
He maintained that the outcome on the SOP was “totally different” from what had been discussed.
Lim said there was no representation from the chamber for the Jan 18 meeting as there was too short a notice for it.
Source: The Star
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