JOHOR BARU: The atmosphere at a ceramah attended by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim became tense after health officials issued a warning to the PKR president.

The Port Dickson MP was upset that a health official had warned him not to take off his face mask when giving a speech.

“In Parliament, the Speaker allowed me to take off my face mask to deliver speeches, but why am I not allowed to do so here?

“After my ceramah, I will text Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on this,” he said, adding that such rules made it difficult to campaign in the Johor election.

He claimed that he wanted to remove his face mask as many people could not hear him despite using a public address system.

Anwar, who is also Opposition chief, said this while delivering a ceramah at the Larkin PKR operations room along Jalan Rajawali here on Saturday (March 5) evening.

This drew ire from PKR members and supporters who shouted at the health officials, claiming that they were being unfair towards them.

Anwar then asked party members and supporters to remain calm as they were only doing their job.

“They (health officials) are just following the rules set by the Election Commission, which is not practical,” he added.

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