KUCHING, July 6: A longhouse chief in Sungai Sentubu, Sarikei has been slapped with a RM4,000 fine by the Sarikei Division Health Office for holding a Gawai celebration with guests at the ‘ruai’ (open communal space) of the longhouse where physical distancing was ignored.
The State Disaster Management Committee, in its daily update on the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak, also reported that the Sarawak Health Department has issued a total of 67 compounds for various standard operating procedure (SOP) violations between June 27 and July 3.
Of the figure, 53 compounds were issued to individual violators and 14 were for organisations, thus increasing the cumulative compounds issued since March 11 to 303.
Among the offences were failure to observe quarantine order, activities at entertainment outlets, flouting movement control order, engaging in activities where physical distancing cannot be enforced, failure to wear face masks, failure to register for entry into premises, premises failing to enforce physical distancing, premises failing to prepare MySejahtera QR Code and manual logbook, employers breaching permitted workforce capacity, and other Covid-19 restrictions.
The police, SDMC revealed, also issued 70 compounds with 30 issued in Kuching, Bintulu (27), Miri (6), Lawas (5) and Sibu (2).
This thus increased the cumulative compounds issued since March 18, 2020 to 8,880.
Among the offences were exceeding passenger limit in vehicles (14), being out in public places after 10pm (13), failure to check-in with MySejahtera before entering premises (11), not wearing face masks (10), gathering without physical distancing (8), out in public places after 12am (6), holding unpermitted activities (6), factory failing to provide screening for body temperature (1) and crossing districts with permit (1).
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing also issued nine compounds in areas under the jurisdiction of Bintulu Development Authority (3), Sarikei District Council (3), Padawan Municipal Council (1), Saratok District Council (1) and Marudi District Council (1).
This thus increased the total number of compounds issued by local authorities since Feb 1, 2021 to 1,243.
Among the violations were failure to update registration book or incomplete registration, failure to put on face mask and operating without permission. — DayakDaily
