By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 6: Sarawakian entrepreneurs must notify the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in writing if they wish to open their businesses between May 4 to May 12.
The written notice must contain particulars such as the name of the owner(s), firm or company; the address of the premises that business activities will be conducted from, the general nature of the business as well as action plan taken to protect public health and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The notice shall be addressed to Chairman, State Disaster Management Committee, 1st Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, 93502 Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak, or emailed to jpbn@sarawak.gov.my, or faxed to 082-442730.
Business entities must also ensure they are in full compliance with all applicable state laws, and any guidelines and standard operating procedures issued from time to time by SDMC with the approval of the Sarawak Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
They have to meet requirements under the Protection of Public Health (Measures on the Carrying Out of Activities In Infected Local Areas) Order which was gazetted on May 4.
This Order, which shall be read together with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No. 5) Regulations 2020, is effective from May 4 until May 12, 2020.
According to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No. 5) Regulations 2020, businesses that involved the following 13 categories of activities will not be allowed to open.
These prohibited activities include the following:
- Entertainment, leisure and recreation activities which may cause a crowd to gather
- Religious, cultural and arts activities which may cause a crowd to gather
- Any business activity which may lead a crowd to gather
- Cloth-fitting, using of fitting rooms, trying on accessories in stores
- Cosmetics testing in stores
- Barbershops and beauty salon services
- Filming of movies, dramas, documentaries, and advertisements
- Cruise ships, tourism services and services at accommodation premises under the 1992 Tourism Industry Act
- Sales and marketing of financial services and banking outside of their premises or in public places
- Commercial sales and marketing outside business premises or in public places — except for food business in food courts, hawker centres, food stalls, food trucks and the like.
- Installation and maintenance of machinery activities (lift, escalator, boiler) and tower cranes at construction sites in groups which may cause a gathering
- Activities at centralised labour quarters, employees’ hostels and dormitories which may cause a crowd to gather
- Theory and practical examinations for shot-firer for mining and quarrying industryÂ
- Certification for agricultural commodities
Anyone found flouting the regulation may be fined a maximum of RM1,000 or jailed up to six months, or both. — DayakDaily
