SIBU, March 1: The Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee will decide tomorrow whether to extend Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in Sibu Jaya flats and Town Villa housing area.
Its coordinator, Dr Annuar Rapaee said in his daily Facebook Livestream session today that they had to decide on the matter as the EMCO will end in four days’ time.
“We will hold a meeting tomorrow on further action on the lockdown in Sibu Jaya flats as the EMCO will end in four days’ time,” he said in response to a query by a netizen.
The Nangka assemblyman said the Covid-19 situation in the lockdown area which covers the 20 flats and Town Villa housing was still quite high.
Sibu Jaya recorded 20 cases today. Of the number, 14 were from the flats and five from Town Villa.
Over to Phase Two Sentosa which is under lockdown for two weeks starting Feb 27, he said six new cases were detected today.
Meanwhile, from the 54 cases recorded in Sibu today, 34 of them were from Sibu Municipal Council areas.
To a question on why lockdown could not be enforced immediately in the area under red zone, he said a lot of preparatory work needed to be done first.
“We can’t enforce it immediately as the process takes time. The Armed Forces, for example, need ample time to lock the area using mesh wire,” said Dr Annuar.
He acknowledged that before the lockdown came into effect, there were some residents who had escaped. This had happened in Pasai Siong area when the eight longhouses were among the first where restricted movement was imposed.
On a complaint by a resident in Sentosa that his employer forced him to work or else his salary would be cut, he said the issue is a complicated matter.
“I  will bring it up with the Labour Department on how to deal with it,” he assured. — DayakDaily
