KUCHING: Opposition leaders are urged not to use the New Year’s Eve celebration at Stadium Perpaduan Kuching as political capital, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the event was a tribute to Covid-19 frontliners.
“I have also asked opposition leaders to join us at the ceremony and told them not to politicise the event. There should not be any concern on the compliance of standard operating procedures as representatives of the Health Ministry and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will be there to make sure everything goes smoothly.
“Because of that, the opposition should not be taking advantage of the situation as the intent of the celebration is noble,” he said in a Facebook post today.
On Wednesday, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii had questioned whether the big event was necessary when the state was facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
He asked what message the state government was trying to send to the people about the importance of following all necessary precautions, including avoiding crowded areas, risking the possibility of an outbreak.
He said Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had mentioned that there would be no mass gathering for the New Year for the whole nation.
“How is then Sarawak exempted?” Dr Yii asked, urging the state government to consider postponing the planned New Year’s Eve celebration.
