By Olivia Miwil - February 7, 2021 @ 6:18pm
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Seri Dr Wilfred Madius Tangau. - NSTP/File picKOTA KINABALU: The government has been urged to obtain feedback from experts in formulating a long-term standard operating procedure (SOP) for festivities.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Seri Dr Wilfred Madius Tangau said Covid-19 is a long term issue, hence, Chinese New Year would not be the last cultural or religious celebration affected by the coronavirus.
"(The Chinese New Year celebration) is a black-and-white contrast to the policy on SOPs for the economic sector where the former discourages family gatherings and devotees at temples while the latter promotes crowds at a night market (pasar malam).
"We call upon the government to re-evaluate this disparity to enforce policies with more parity across the different sectors," he said in a joint statement.
The other signatories of the statement are Senator Datuk Donald Mojuntin and Datuk Ewon Benedict, UPKO assemblymen for Kadamaian.
In light of this sensitive issue, Madius said the government should consult and involve the opposition in formulating pandemic policies to avoid blindspots.
"The organising principles must include equality between ethnicities, faith, and cultures," he added.
The Tuaran member of parliament is hopeful that the government would reconsider the policies concerning the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations and other festivities to follow.
"It is possible to conduct meaningful cultural celebrations while adhering to SOPs and ensuring that economic operations are still in order."
Meanwhile, he added that the focus should also be averted to outdoor activities instead of indoor happenings.
"In principle, inter-state travel should not be allowed, however, inter-district travel should be allowed within limits which the Health Ministry should specify based on prevailing and current data.
"If these were to be combined with other SOPs such as a reduced number of visitors and visits, shortened period of visits, outdoor settings alongside the use of face masks, hand-washing, and MySejahtera, we can make an allowance for cultural celebrations especially in the face of a multi-year pandemic."
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