KUCHING, June 11: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s work visit to Kapit yesterday (June 10) was in complete compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) of the current Movement Control Order (MCO).
The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the visit to Kapit and several other accompanying activities were approved while the launching ceremony of food basket distribution at Kapit Town Square was also held for invited guests only.
“As a responsible leader of the people, the Chief Minister had to go to the ground to gauge the preparedness of Kapit Division in implementing the vaccination programme, view and assess the local medical facilities including the army field hospital, and symbolically hand over food packages to the people via local YBs.
“For that particular event held at Kapit Town Square, only limited and relevant guests were invited in accordance with the SOP (standard operating procedure) protocol,” it said.
The committee said the recipients of the food baskets under the Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) at the ceremony comprised only one Member of Parliament (MP) representative, six State assemblymen and four community leaders from the division.
SDMC assured that all attendees also went through strict temperature checks and registration monitored by officers from the Ministry of Health (MoH).
“The others who were present at the event were members of the organising committee, security personnel and the members of the media. No other members of the public were involved.
“The Chief Minister’s entourage even skipped lunch prepared by the organising committee in further compliance with the SOP,” it said in a statement today.
SDMC was responding to a media statement by an individual on Facebook saying that Abang Johari’s work visit yesterday was “unwise and uncalled” for as it was against MCO SOPs and attracted crowds.
With that, the committee stressed in clarification that it was inaccurate to say that the event in Kapit had breached the SOPs. — DayakDaily
