KEPONG MP Lim Lip Eng has expressed his dismay over the conduct of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri for recently defending a minister for violating COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Lim was referring to Ismail Sabri who said on Feb 14 that Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein did not have to resign although he was caught breaching COVID-19 SOPs at an event in Johor.
The Prime Minister said that the offence committed by Hishammuddin, who is also a senior minister, was not a crime.
The Johor MIC political event in Iskandar Puteri was also attended by MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran and since then, compounds have been issued by the Health Ministry.
“I am truly appalled by the self-serving conduct of the Prime Minister as the breach of SOP by one of his senior ministers should not be taken lightly especially when it involves the safety of the people at a jam-packed shoulder-to-shoulder launch of Johor MIC’s brigade in Iskandar Puteri, Johor on Feb 13,” Lim said in a statement.
“I would like to know how many of Ismail Sabri’s cabinet ministers and their deputies suffer from hypocritical behaviours of ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ when it comes to compliance with the SOP. How many of them have, in fact, been fined for breaching the SOP?”
Lim said that their failure to adhere to SOPs would not only draw criticism from the public but make a mockery of the SOPs set up by the Government to control the spread of the coronavirus.
“While many people have cancelled their social gatherings and weddings, it is strange that the organisers including Vigneswaran were oblivious to the pandemic,” he added.
“While I wish Hishammuddin a speedy recovery from COVID-19, I would like to know if all three including incumbent Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohamed had paid up their fines. If not, why the delay?” – Feb 23, 2022
