KL parks allowed to open after NSC approval, says Annuar Musa

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to keep public parks open in Kuala Lumpur was approved by the National Security Council (NSC), says Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

The Federal Territories Minister said the matter was discussed by the Federal Territories Crisis Management Centre - of which Annuar is chairman - before it was presented and subsequently approved by the NSC.

“Some have said that this was a flip-flop decision, but it was made based on feedback from the people and even from several Kuala Lumpur MPs. As it is for the betterment of the public, it is OK.

“We should listen to their voices, and if reasonable, we can find ways to implement them. We are not perfect, but we do not have to be so rigid, ” he said during a live-stream Sunday (Jan 17). Annuar said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was instructed to increase monitoring at popular parks such as Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Botani Perdana and Taman Metropolitan Kepong.

On Friday (Jan 15), he had announced that public parks in the city would remain open despite an earlier statement by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri that parks in states under the movement control order were to be closed for recreational and sports activities.

However, some flexibility was given for leisure activities, including jogging and cycling.

Annuar said the decision was to allow the parks to be opened conditionally, with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be strictly adhered to such as no group activities, picnics and camping allowed in the public space.

On a separate matter, Annuar also cautioned that any charity programmes to be carried out during the MCO needed the proper approvals from the authorities.

“It is not wrong to want to carry out charitable activities or give out donations, but organisers must follow the proper procedures, ” he said.

He was referring to a recent incident where organisers of a free frozen chicken giveaway were issued a compound for breaching the SOPs.

Updating on the Covid-19 situation in the Federal Territories, Annuar said that the numbers were concerning.

Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded a total of 382 cases, seven of which were imported.

The most number of cases were recorded in the health districts of Lembah Pantai (with 193 cases), Cheras (39 cases), Titiwangsa (66) and Kepong (49) as of Saturday (Jan 16).