Annuar Explains Sop Flip Flop With Senior Minister

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Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa today explained his apparent contradiction with Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob over the second movement control order's standard operating procedure was merely a case of being responsible to public feedback.
Annuar said it was untrue that he was at odds with Ismail, who is also the defence minister and cabinet member in charge of implementing the MCO.
This came after the Kuala Lumpur City Hall on Jan 13 ordered all public parks to be closed only to be instructed by Annuar not to do so.
Ismail on Jan 14 then said he can't entertain requests for public parks to remain open and that they must close but a day later, Annuar said public parks can remain open.
The confused signal prompted criticism from Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh who demanded to know who was in charge over the SOP. 
Annuar acknowledged that the move to close public parks was the original position but that changed following public feedback.
"I read sarcastic comments that we flip-flopped in our decisions, that there was supposedly contradictions between what I said and what the defence minister said.
"That is untrue. The announcement was made by the prime minister and then detailed by the defence minister. That is confirmed and final.
"But after that, there were appeals with regard to public parks, including from MPs as well as representatives from the opposition and federal territories.
"So we heeded the people's appeals," he said in an interview aired on the Federal Territories Ministry Facebook page.




Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Annuar said it was okay to "flip-flop" if it was for the better.
"There were posts, including from friends, that were sarcastic. It's okay, I'm okay.
"Flip-flopping for the better is okay, not flip-flopping to an extent that it creates confusion," he said.
He said the government was being responsive to the people.
On a separate matter, Annuar apologised at having to issue a warning to his party colleague for organising a charity event that attracted huge crowds, in violation of the MCO SOPs.
Putrajaya Umno had on Jan 15 distributed free frozen chickens which attracted huge crowds. Police later fined the organisers. 
"I'm sorry but programmes require approval from the authorities. When there is no approval, it is an offence and when there is an offence, we must proceed with the usual process.
"Charity is not wrong, but don't violate the SOP," said Annuar, who is also Umno's Ketereh MP.
He said he too planned to distribute free rice but was figuring out the right strategy so as to prevent too many people from congregating in one place.
Annuar, in his interview, also thanked medical frontliners for their efforts.
He said everyone, be it ministers or medical frontliners, have a role to play and all are equally important.
"Ministers will do their jobs the minister's way while nurses will do their job the nurses' way. Our responsibility is the same, there isn't one that is less or more important. All are equally important," he said. - Mkini

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