MUKAH: A Chinese community leader here believes that health should be given priority over joy during the coming Chinese New Year (CNY) amid the threat of Covid-19 and a surge in the number of cases lately.
Penghulu Henry Lee Liong Ing said for many Chinese families, it would be a great sacrifice because children and family members working away from home would not be able to return home to celebrate CNY together.
“What is more important is to follow strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy,” he told New Sarawak Tribune via WhatsApp today.
The former school headmaster added that CNY this year would be the first celebrated in the new normal, in a simple and low profile manner without the traditional open house.
He was commenting on the imminent ‘no CNY open house’ order yet to be announced by the authorites, similar to what had happened during Aidilfitri, Gawai Dayak and Christmas last year.
Lee stressed that it was everyone’s role to help the authorities in breaking the Covid-19 infection chain.
Today, Bernama reported that the SOP for CNY celebrations during the implementation of the MCO 2.0 would be announced soon, quoting Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail Sabri said the SOP was being drafted and would be announced after further discussions were held between the Ministry of Health and National Unity Ministry.
