A Daily Family Dinner Is Not A Reunion Dinner

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Do you get the feeling that Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the senior minister for security, says things that warrants an exclamation mark grafted onto his statements?
His piffle yesterday on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner during the lockdown just can’t stand under its own umbrella.
Telling celebrants that reunion dinners will be confined to members of the same household is hilarious and disputable.
It’s right up there with the other prickly Covid-19 protocols. This one, however, collides with fresh air.
It’s like this: When one eats daily with the same family members in the same house, it’s called a family dinner, not a reunion dinner.
Unless someone thinks, these family members had been eating in their own corners in the house and, thus, it becomes a reunion dinner.
This is yet another instance where government statements have not been straightforward, giving bad vibes that never quite go away.
To be sure, there’s no argument that family reunions, a tradition during Chinese New Year, are not allowed this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Perhaps, some consideration could be given to children who stay in the same area as their parents, especially when you look at it in the context of one being able to patronise a pasar malam.
Further, it’s baffling that non-essential businesses are allowed to operate when we are advised not to leave our homes except for essential reasons, shopping, and the like.
Equally careless was the announcement yesterday that the rules for the reunion dinner are for Feb 12 and 13 when the traditional get-together is on Feb 11.
Since Ismail is not hearing what he is saying, it’s a shame nobody thought of rectifying the embarrassing mistakes even as Malaysians pounced on the clanger and delivered zingers.
The least they could have done is to have rephrased the SOP to make it more sensible.
Here’s something else that Ismail’s statement didn’t make sense: Since no new clusters originated from barber shops, hair salons and car wash centres, they will be allowed to open from tomorrow.
There could have been no clusters since these businesses were closed when MCO 2.0 came into force last month.
While tough steps are needed to contain the spread of the virus, you would think that the people making the decision on restrictions would be more concise with their rulings.
That means understanding cultures, traditions and using the right words to explain a directive, no double double-talk, no sophistry.
Those who place themselves on a collision course with the public are generally mown down.
Lesson: Be realistic about what’s going on, and if you can’t see it yourself, seek out a person who can. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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