LETTERS: Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner.
However, the excitement has gone down after the recent announcement made by Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He informed us about the reinforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in several areas to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases. To be honest, it is expected.
Everyone knows it's going to happen, but they are just being in denial. The reasons for this reinstatement of the MCO are also known to many, but they choose to ignore and criticise the government instead, for not allowing Malaysians to travel interstate to go back and celebrate Aidilfitri.
For me, one reason for this decision is due to the cases of Covid-19 virus mutations and variants from South Africa and India.
There have been cases involving these variants in Malaysia and it is something that is worrying as the viruses are able to infect people rapidly and there are other risks that we may not know of.
The second reason is in terms of the SOP. We all know during previous festive seasons, there will be a huge number of people who will be travelling back home.
It is quite difficult to maintain SOP at all times, especially in terms of physical distancing and hygiene at shared public facilities. We are dealing with something that is invisible.
How can we be sure that during our journey back home, we won't bring the virus together with us? What if we do not develop any symptoms eventhough infected?
It is better to be disappointed now for not being able to celebrate Raya with family members like old times rather than being sorry later for causing new infections.
I believe this is all temporary. As long as we achieve herd immunity through vaccination and keep practicing SOP, no doubt we can celebrate every festival with our loved ones like before in due time.
I also hope that Hari Raya this year will make us appreciate other people or things in life even more than we normally do.
NURSYUHADA ZAKARIA
UiTM, Johor