M'sians welcome PM's call to stop grand ceremonies
NILAM NUR ATIKAH OSHMAN23 Dec 2022 10:34am
Photo for illustrative purposes. - Photo by 123rf.
Checks by Sinar found that many opined that funds allocated for such events could be channelled to initiatives to help improve Malaysians' living standards.
Civil servant, Mohd Fadli Razak,44, said the call was timely as past traditions of hosting mega-scale events by government departments and agencies should be stopped and focus on the civil service's objective of helping and improving the lives of the people in the country.
"These launching ceremonies will involve a large amount of cost. This has to stop because it is purely wasteful.
"When people are suffering from the rising cost of living and burdened by the effects of an unstable economy, ceremonies such as this are nothing but a waste of money."
"I support the prime minister's move to urge government departments to reduce big-scale launching ceremonies, including the cancellation of the 2023 New Year's Celebration, to observe and respect the unfortunate ordeal suffered by east coast states, which are badly hit by floods. It was a good move by the premier," he said to Sinar on Thursday.
Muhammad Amirul Asraff Affindi, 27, viewed these launching ceremonies as only benefiting a small group without any purpose.
"It depends on the ceremony. For example, the launch of an awareness programme is not an issue, but it should not be done extravagantly.
"Some ceremonies that celebrated employees or departments were viewed as unfair, especially when VVIP guests were involved; in the end, those who were supposed to be celebrated were left out," he explained.
Housewife Nurwani Rahman, 30, said the funds allocated for the ceremonies would be better used for the flood victims who need the aid during this time.
"That old era has passed." If we want to give flood donations, we should immediately go to the areas affected instead of having a launching ceremony before sending out the aid. It wouldn't give a good perception when the people are struggling," she said.
Student Seow Han Lin, 23 said the launching ceremonies or any public programmes can be done in a moderate manner.
"Moderation is the key here. If it is done in a lavish manner, it is surely a waste of the public's money.
"However, if it were done moderately, it would show a good example in their leadership," he said.
