By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, 3 April: Sarawakians are forming long queues at the Miri police headquarters here to obtain the inter district travel written permit during the movement control order (MCO).
The long lines for the travel permit happened following yesterday’s announcement by State Disaster Management Committee chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, that the inter district travel permits can be obtained at the nearest police station.
People started to gather at the Miri police headquarters at around 8.30am and the lines grew longer by the hour. Among those spotted at the premise to apply for the permit was Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, who arrived around 10.45am.
“I’m going to Long Lama today to distribute some food rations to the villagers there, as they could not go out to shop for groceries during MCO period,” he told reporters at the venue.
“No doubt that the MCO is a difficult time for all of us but we must stand together as one to win this battle against Covid-19,” he added.
He advised the people not to panic but to stay calm and abide with the MCO.
Miri district police chief, ACP Lim Meng Seah, said the application process was running smoothly. The police has set up a counter for the public to submit their applications.
“People comply with our instructions, we are also enforcing social distancing,” he said when met at his office.
Lim added that most of the people who applied for the travel permits were oil and gas offshore employees.
“Majority of them applied to go back to their respective home town outside Miri but currently, we are not encouraging them to do so,” he explained.
He added that some of these offshore workers gave reason they have no place to stay during the extended MCO period.
“I’ve talked and met with their employers (Shell and Petronas), they no need to worry about accommodations, as they (employers) are providing accommodation free-of-charge including food during the MCO,” Lim said.
Previously, the travel permit could be obtained from the Resident’s Office the government decided that the police should take charge of the matter amid the restricted movement order. — DayakDaily
