KUALA LUMPUR: Some matters discussed during meetings to finalise the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Chinese New Year celebration were not included in the SOP announced by the government.

The Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) said the matters discussed in the meetings were not reflected in the SOP.

"Our women's division chairman, Ng Geok Chee, was invited by the National Unity Ministry to the virtual meetings, but the contents of the meeting were not the same as the details announced by the government.

"When she (Ng) briefed the internal group chat, the discussion was about the Chinese New Year reunion dinner at home (landed or high-rise), which should be limited to 20 people or fewer. 

"The number of people (20) refers to family members and not family members living in the same house as announced by the National Security Council (NSC)."

As such, KLSCAH said, the NSC did not recognise the outcome of the meetings between the ministry and the groups.

The meetings held on Jan 12 and Jan 18 involved 21 religious, cultural and business associations, including those from Sabah and Sarawak.

"Therefore, KLSCAH refutes the government's statement that this (the announced SOP) is the result of consensus between 21 groups."

The Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) said: "We were only invited for the meeting on Jan 12.

"As such, we are unaware of the (subsequent) decisions that resulted in the SOP," said its president, Loh Pai Ling.

She said BMSM welcomed the move by the ministry to discuss the matter with the Chinese community, particularly on the SOP for family reunions and prayers at the temple.

"We look forward to a sensible and safe Chinese New Year SOP. Let there be no confusion over this as we take appropriate measures to contain the spread of Covid-19."

Loh said Chinese New Year celebrations begin on the eve of the first day with the reunion dinner, then continue for 15 days until Chap Goh Meh.

She hoped Chinese New Year celebrations would be safe for all.

"Hopefully, by Feb 26, the Movement Control Order will finally be lifted and we can have a nice celebration to close Chinese New Year by welcoming a happy, healthy and prosperous year."

Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association vice-president Dr Johari Yap Abdullah said the SOP for places of worship was among the matters discussed during the Jan 12 virtual meeting.

He said Chinese New Year celebrations would not be the same without reunion dinners and visiting relatives.

He said the government and NSC should use the same SOP for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, where house visits were allowed on the first day of the celebration with a limited number of guests.

"The essence of Chinese New Year is the reunion dinner and house visits.

"Maybe the government should at least allow house visits in the same district on the first day of Chinese New Year, rather than limit the celebration to only those in the same house."

The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) said it was not invited by the National Unity Ministry to the discussions on the SOP for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Huazong president Tan Sri T.C. Goh said the federation did not send any representative to the discussions on Jan 12 and Jan 18 as it was not invited.

He said he hoped the ministry would clarify its statement that Huazong "was part of 21 groups that it had discussions with" on the SOP.

He said the clarification would prevent confusion.

"If we were invited by any department or agency, Huazong would have sent our representatives to give our views and proposals."

Nevertheless, Goh said, he welcomed the ministry's announcement that it would give feedback on the SOP from the Chinese community to the NSC.

"I welcome the ministry's initiative to conduct (new) dialogue sessions with the Chinese community to gather their views on the matter so that the information can be relayed to the NSC and a better Chinese New Year SOP can be drafted, one that is more acceptable to all."

The Chinese New Year SOP announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday drew flak from the Chinese community.

The SOP includes limiting celebrations to people in the same household and the same for reunion dinners.

Goh said while Huazong supported the need to implement the SOP for Chinese New Year celebrations, it was also important to uphold some cultural and religious traditions, including having reunion dinners with family members and performing religious rituals at home.

"The SOP has caused dissatisfaction among the Chinese community, so we hope the government will listen to the people's feedback for it to be rectified.

"For example, we recommend that family members who live within a 10km radius should be allowed to gather for the reunion dinner."

He reminded the Chinese community to always comply with the SOP issued by the government while celebrating the new year.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/663789/what-chinese-groups-talked-about-didnt-get-sop