By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Dec 5: The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has clarified that Julau MP Larry Sng’s application to return to Sarawak was initially rejected because he did not submit his results for his Covid-19 swab test.
SDMC acting chairman Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing in a statement today said there was no ill intention to refrain Sng from returning to Sarawak.
“YB Larry’s application was incomplete in which it was stated in the decline page that he did not submit his rapid test polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result in the application.
“SDMC has enforced and made it compulsory for those intending to enter Sarawak to apply through EnterSarawak and EHealth Declaration to safeguard the state during this pandemic.
“For Members of Parliament attending the parliament sitting, a special standard operating procedure (SOP) to exempt them from quarantine was implemented to allow MPs to better serve their constituents and people,” he said.
Masing said MP falls under the essential service list where they would be exempted from quarantine with conditions.
He added for essential service to be exempted, the MPs will have to undergo an RT-PCR Covid-19 test and receive a negative result.
Masing said the MP will have to attach their official work letter and personal identification to complete the application process.
He noted that MPs were required to undergo the Covid-19 swab test before the Parliament sitting.
“SDMC has investigated YB Sng’s application and found that he applied a total of five times, of which his application was rejected three times due to insufficient documentation.
“While another time, the system had approved his application with the condition to undergo quarantine and not for exemption as his application was not furnished with an RT-PCR test result.
“YB Sng only enclosed and submitted his RT-PCR test and complete required documentation on his fifth attempt of applying.
“By following the procedure as his fellow colleagues had done, he was granted an approval to enter Sarawak with exemption from quarantine,” he added.
In the meantime, SDMC reminded everyone to check their application for the procedure to enter Sarawak and the comments made by the administrator on the application status.
Yesterday, Sng posted on his Facebook page saying that he was requested to undergo 14 days quarantine when he initially applied to return back to Sarawak using the Enter Sarawak form after attending the Parliament sitting in Kuala Lumpur.
Sng claimed that the state government was using Covid-19 as a political tool to prevent him from coming back to Sarawak.—DayakDaily
