KUALA LUMPUR:The government is accused of making "mistakes" in the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) for next week's Chinese New Year celebrations.<br /> <br /> Deputy Minister of National Unity, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker in a recent post on his Facebook account said the list released by the National Security Council (MKN) must be withdrawn and replaced with a revised version.<br /> <br /> However, the MCA vice-president did not elaborate on the mistake that he is referring to, neither gave any suggestions for revision.<br /> <br /> He only included a note detailing the SOP, which among others prohibit families from returning home for a two-day vacation, visiting each other or gathering for dinner with the family celebrated on Chinese New Year.<br /> <br /> Instead, the list says the government only allows families living in the same house for dinner to commemorate the occasion.<br /> <br /> On Thursday, Senior Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government only allowed the 'big gathering/dinner' within the family of the same household, as well as prayers conducted at home in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations on  February 11 and 12.<br /> <br /> However, he said, performance and cultural activities such as lion dance, dragon, lantern and chingay parade as well as Chinese opera performances were not allowed.<br /> <br /> The latest SOP received various reactions on social media from the people.<br /> <div class="embed-tweet"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/IsmailSabri60?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsmailSabri60</a> says that CNY Reunion dinner is only allowed for those who stay in the same house. Errrr... sane people call that regular dinner, not CNY reunion dinner. At least allow families in the same district / area to gather for CNY reunion dinner lah (Max 10 o 15 pax)</p> — Ong Kian Ming (@imokman) <a href="https://twitter.com/imokman/status/1357308488783859713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote> </div> <br /> Meanwhile, Bangi Member of Parliament, Ong Kian Ming via Twitter explained that the meaning of a big gathering/dinner for those living in the same house by Ismail only means a normal dinner and not<br /> a special Chinese New Year meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="embed-tweet"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> This CNY <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOP</a> is a joke. Family living in same district can visit each other now. During CNY it is banned. We can reunion dinner now, but not during CNY.<br /> <br /> Lets wait for the U-turn again!</p> — SimTzeTzin (@simtzetzin) <a href="https://twitter.com/simtzetzin/status/1357321772874362880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote> </div> <br /> Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Sim Tze Tzin also echoed the similar opinion that the Chinese New Year SOP announced by the government did not make any sense.<br /> <br /> <div class="embed-tweet"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> CNY SOP is a joke.<br /> <br /> Reunion dinner seisi rumah = literally normal family dinner.<br /> <br /> Their idea of ziarah = knocking on each room door since it's seisi rumah too?<br /> <br /> We also don't really watch Chinese opera. <a href="https://twitter.com/MCAHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MCAHQ</a> can you please advise PN to have some cultural awareness zzz</p> — Lim Yi Wei (@LimYiWei4MY) <a href="https://twitter.com/LimYiWei4MY/status/1357316666028265475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote> </div> <br /> Meanwhile, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei stressed that MCA should advice the Perikatan Nasional government (PN) to have cultural awareness on the issue.<br /> <br /> On Thursday, Iskandar Puteri DAP MP Lim Kit Siang claimed that the Chinese New Year celebration SOP was the latest evidence of the government's failure to formulate approaches and strategies involving the "whole government" and "the whole community" in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.<br /> <br /> He also called for it to be withdrawn and replaced with a new SOP that is more sensitive to the needs to regain the trust, confidence, and support of the people.