KULAI: The Opposition is claiming that there are “double standards” in the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Johor election.

       “Yesterday (March 5), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob took off his face mask when giving a speech during the Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia tour and no one stopped him.

       “However, on the same day, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was stopped by authorities (for taking off his face mask) while giving a speech during a ceramah in Larkin. There are double standards here.

       “This shows that the people who came out with the SOP are oblivious to the situation on the ground,” he said in a press conference at Taman Tropika here on Sunday (March 6).

       Also present at the press conference were PKR candidate for the Bukit Batu seat Arthur Chiong Sern Sen, party vice-president Chang Lih Kang and several other PKR MPs.

       He added that the matter would be brought up to the Parliament once it resumes on Monday (March 7).

       “I believe some MPs will bring up this important matter in Parliament. The Prime Minister must be able to answer the question,” he said.

       On Saturday (March 5), health officials attempted to issue a warning to Anwar for taking his face mask off while giving a speech at a ceramah in Larkin.

       After Anwar left, health officials handed a stern warning to the ceramah organiser.

       On Sunday (March 6) Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that his ministry had made a recommendation to the Election Commission (EC) to allow those speaking at ceramah to remove their face masks.

       However, he said they still need to comply with other standard operating procedures (SOP), including physical distancing.