By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, April 15: People living in red zone areas should adhere strictly to the Extended Movement Control Order (MCO) while those living in green zone areas should be allowed flexibility to move around, opines Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
“Those living in red zone areas must adhere strictly to the EMCO so that we can reduce the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic in Sarawak.
“While at the same time, those living in green zone areas should be allowed flexible movement to reduce social ills,” Masing told DayakDaily here today.
Masing reiterated that there are many people who would feel pressured when confined at home.
“Herein, we should allow some kind of flexibility of movement for those living in green zone areas. This will help reduce their level of stress by allowing them to go for exercise outdoors, for instance. This will reduce social ills,” he opined.
On state border security of which he heads the state committee, Masing said he believed that the federal government will increase the number of personnel stationed along the border.
“They have given the assurance to strengthen our border security if it warrants it especially if there is a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia, which they predict to be sometime within the next two weeks.
“But for now, we must ensure that we can contain the spread of the coronavirus internally, so that we can slowly open up our economy,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Masing welcomed the decision by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee to set up another four task forces to tackle the Covod-19 pandemic in Sarawak by roping in three medical experts to lead the four task forces.
“This is the correct way to tackle Covid-19. Get the medical experts to head the task force to fight what is essentially a health problem. Let the lawmakers and the civil service be the back-up groups to assist whenever required,” he added.
Yesterday, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced the setting up of four task forces, namely: ‘Accelerating the flattening curve (current wave)’ which is led by former Sarawak Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim; ‘Preventing the next wave’ and ‘Real-time analysis of data on Covid-19’ to headed by former Sarawak Health Department director Datu Prof Dr Andrew Kiyu and ‘Preparedness of the big wave’ to be headed by Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian. — DayakDaily
