Employees in essential services don’t need to apply for MITI’s approval letters to operate within district

Lee speaking to police officers manning a roadblock.

MIRI, June 10: Essential services including commercial, services and food supply chain sectors do not need to apply for Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)’s approval letters to carry out operations within the respective districts during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Minister-in-charge of Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee (Miri DDMC) Datuk Lee Kim Shin emphasised that authorisation letters issued by employers are sufficient if operations are carried out within the respective districts only.

“The Miri DDMC has on Tuesday agreed that sectors allowed to operate as listed under SOP (standard operating procedures) issued by SDMC (State Disaster Management Committee) only need to show authorisation letters from employers such as has been practised before this.

“There is no need to use MITI letters issued by the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0 and this is only valid for operations within the district only,” he was quoted saying in a news report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) today.

However, Lee who is also the Minister of Transport, reminded the public that a police permit is mandatory in order to pass roadblocks mounted throughout the State.

“There is no doubt about this as the police have been informed of this matter which was attended to by the Miri District Deputy Police Chief,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak government has announced that industries or sectors which are not listed as essential services or any party unsure about their respective operations may submit applications for special approval to be considered by SDMC.

Miri DDMC also reminded all sectors allowed to operate during MCO to adhere strictly to SOPs and other Covid-19 restrictions in place to curb the pandemic. — DayakDaily