Ismail, who announced the SOPs on reunion dinners and house visits yesterday, said he found the heavy criticism and widespread backlash on social media surprising.

He said for CNY celebrations, the national unity ministry had conducted two discussions involving 21 Chinese, Buddhist, Taoist and other relevant religious and cultural bodies before coming up with the SOPs together.

“That’s why it is quite baffling when the SOPs presented for CNY this time came in for harsh criticism from the public.”

However, he said if the ministry wished to make any changes to the SOPs after receiving public feedback, they may table their proposals to the National Security Council (MKN) for consideration.

The ministry has said it would put forward new proposals on the SOPs to MKN.

Ismail said SOPs for non-Muslim festivities were made after the national unity ministry presents the rules to the National Security Council for approval.

He added that prior to the SOPs being tabled, the ministry is required to hold discussions and get the agreement of representatives from the relevant cultural and religious organisations.

Yesterday, deputy national unity minister Ti Lian Ker said the SOPs must be rectified immediately.

“Someone has screwed up totally here. This SOP must be quickly withdrawn and rectified! This is not an SOP, but a forbidden city,” he posted on Facebook.

Ismail announced the CNY rules yesterday, which includes the rule that the reunion dinner will only be allowed among family members living in the same house.

A public outcry followed, with many politicians and others taking jabs at the government for being culturally tone-deaf.

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