By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 12: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii urges Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to be transparent and clear in its strategy to combat Covid-19.
Dr Yii in a statement today said SDMC must be clear on its target not to adopt the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) in favour of an enhanced Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) so that people and businesses will not be confused over last-minute announcements as well as suffer from flip-flops and inconsistencies.
“The government must have a clear and comprehensive exit strategy for all businesses after this including how to help the economy stagger to normalcy while ensuring our community is safe and protected.
“As we cannot keep on implementing MCO or strict CMCO all the time, the government must be better prepared in planning and communication on this exit strategy in order for a smooth transition towards a resumption of business operations post-MCO.
“There must be continued engagement between the relevant ministries with all stakeholders to sort out the necessary arrangements and even allowing the type of businesses to resume operations by phases as it allows the companies or industries to get ready and prepare the standard operating procedure (SOP),” he said.
Dr Yii stressed that it is important for the public to know what SDMC was trying to achieve in implementing the enhanced CMCO rather than MCO when the former ends on May 17.
He noted the enhanced CMCO with strict SOP has been implemented in Sibu and Bintulu since mid-April and yet the number of cases in both divisions did not go down.
Thus, he questioned SDMC’s in adopting the enhanced CMCO and what would be the committee’s next action plan if it does not fulfil its objective.
Meanwhile, Dr Yii called on the Sarawak government to provide financial assistance to food and beverage players including hawkers which were affected by the enhanced CMCO.
He noted that business has dropped significantly and the government should look at extending financial assistance to this group during the Covid-19 pandemic. — DayakDaily
