The event, to commemorate the first 100 days in office of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his Cabinet, is being held over four days and features a host of programmes and exhibitions.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai quipped that based on the large number of people who had turned up, it would seem that “increasing Covid-19 numbers would be one of the goals for the Ismail administration’s next 100 days”.
“It seems that garnering publicity is on overdrive now though we are still staring at both the Delta and Omicron variants in this country,” he said in a statement.
“Even as we are in the midst of encouraging the booster shots in a bid to stave off the pandemic, there are quarters in responsible government positions who seem to want the pandemic to stay.”
Koh said clear double standards were on display when the government warned against processions for Thaipusam and public protests against rising food prices, and yet organised large celebratory gatherings.
“This is like saying that the virus is selective in who it wants to infect.
“The health minister and his ministry are already being taxed to the limit in managing the current situation, with Omicron doing the rounds around the world. It doesn’t help if other ministries are not on the same page on this,” Koh told FMT.
“It seems that the health ministry is always in salvage mode due to a lack of cooperation among ministries.”
Yesterday, after pictures emerged of the throngs of people who appeared to defy social distancing SOPs, numerous MPs from both sides of the political divide criticised the event.
According to The Malaysian Insight, human resources minister and MIC deputy president M Saravanan said he would speak to the prime minister about the event and SOPs for Thaipusam next month.
“If this event can take place, surely Thaipusam can also take place. This would be in accordance with the SOPs set,” he was reported to have said.
“This (KLCC event) was celebrated on a big scale and the turnout was even bigger than expected.
“There was no physical distancing at all as people packed the hall and they were standing in close proximity.”
Similarly, former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the event was “extremely irresponsible and regrettable”, according to Malaysiakini.
“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 the well-being of the rakyat.”
Even before the event was held, Batu Gajah MP V Sivakumar had raised concerns about the double standards at play given reports that the Thaipusam chariot procession and carryig of kavadis would be banned.
“Recently, the government has allowed large events involving the public and is even organising such an event itself.
“Therefore, it is inappropriate to cancel the chariot procession,” he said.
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