Report Lodged After Ministers Allegedly Travel Interstate For Wedding

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A police report has been lodged against several ministers for allegedly breaching standard operating procedures (SOPs) by crossing state lines to attend a wedding reception over the weekend.
Specifically named were Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Khairy Jamaluddin; Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa; Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad; Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said.
Aside from the four ministers and one deputy minister, Umno Padang Terap MP Mahdzir Khalid was also named.
Youth movement Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) lodged the report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon.
“(They) travelled interstate in a conditional movement control order (MCO) area to attend the wedding reception of (Umno Jelebu MP) Jalaluddin Alias’ child at Klana Resort, Seremban on March 14, 2021.
“On the same day and at the same venue in Klana Resort, Seremban; Tengku Zafrul and other very important people (VIPs) breached SOP by not wearing a facemask.
“The reason I am making this report is to urge the police to carry out an investigation and take the necessary actions,” read the report as sighted by Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini is reaching out to all those named for comment.
The report comes after Negeri Sembilan Umno Youth chief Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir posted photographs of the wedding and its high-profile guests on his personal Instagram account.
The images were later deleted but not before screenshots were taken and posted on Twitter.

Elected representatives are allowed to travel interstate and interdistrict for official duties and to visit their constituencies.

Conditional MCO SOPs stipulate that interstate travel is not allowed unless police permission or a company letter is obtained.
Like Muda, opposition lawmaker Cha Kee Chin said the authorities needed to take action on these politicians for setting a bad example by travelling to a different state for a social function.
"To me, if you cross the state (border) to attend a social event and not for work purposes, it doesn't matter if you're a minister or ordinary citizen, it's not appropriate.
"What shocked me was that the top leadership was also there. If the ministers want the rakyat to follow the SOP, they must be exemplary.
"They cannot take advantage. This is not about me on the opposition side, but this is about adhering to the SOP for safety,” the Rasah MP told Malaysiakini.
SOP breaches can now incur a hefty RM10,000 compound.
More ministers, more breaches
Meanwhile, Muda also reported Annuar for a second alleged offence.
"(He) did not wear a facemask and did not practice physical distancing in a recovery MCO area when attending the ‘Program Pertanian Bandar’ in Desa Petaling on Feb 13, 2021," the report read.

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa at the 'Program Pertanian Bandar' event
Muda further claimed that Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had committed a similar offence at an official function in Seremban.  
"Ismail did not wear a facemask and also did not practice physical distancing in a recovery MCO area when attending an official Defence Ministry event at the Sendayan air force base on March 13," it said.
It also accused Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin for committing an SOP breach at a March 13 cycling event at the Bukit Kiara Federal Park in Kuala Lumpur.
The National Landscape Department previously refuted claims that Zuraida’s event had breached SOPs.
New website to report VIPs
After the report was lodged, Muda representative Mutalib Uthman said he hoped ministers will not be given special treatment for alleged SOP violations.
“Muda wants the government and police to take action on the ‘double standard’ applied to ministers and VIPs as compared to the common people when it comes to obeying health SOPs.
“The authorities must investigate all cases involving this bunch of ministers and VIPs, and disclose all processes and investigation findings in a fair and transparent manner,” he told a press conference.
He added that this was especially since 458 people had already been penalised for SOP breaches, of which 438 were compounded.

Muda representative Mutalib Uthman
Mutalib also announced the launch of a new website where the public can anonymously submit information about ministers and VIPs who violate SOPs.
“This website will upload all SOP violations, show them to the public and enable the authorities and government to pay attention,” he said. - Mkini

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