By Ling Hui
KUCHING, July 3: The National Security Council (MKN) will be reviewing in the coming week the three key conditions of Malaysia’s National Recovery Plan (NRP) to be based on figures in each state, as per Sarawak’s requests.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) advisor Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said several states in Malaysia including Sarawak have voiced for the separation of evaluations as data in each state differs.
He said Sarawak, in particular, told MKN to exclude itself from the nationwide assessment as the Covid-19 vaccination rate in the State is increasing fast.
“Sarawak has spoken up for it to be excluded from the nationwide figures because our vaccinate rate is going up fast.
“If we (Sarawak) were to wait for the number (of Covid-19 cases) in the whole Malaysia to decrease before businesses can reopen, it is not fair to Sarawak.
“So, MKN will be discussing this next week to decide the specific criteria (to transition to following phases),” he said during Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng’s Facebook live session today.
Besides the vaccination rate, Dr Sim said the number of Covid-19 cases in the past seven days is another NRP key condition, which is to be further refined in MKN’s coming meeting.
On the third condition — the rate of bed use in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), he said Sarawak also requested for MKN to evaluate this based on districts or zones and not the entire state.
“For example in Limbang, the number of Covid-19 patients there is very low and their medical facilities have no issue. So, Limbang should not be locked down together with the rest of Sarawak.
“It’s the same for Kuching as well. Covid-19 patients from Serian and Samarahan are being sent to SGH (Sarawak General Hospital) and that means Kuching will be under restrictions for a long time because the rate of bed use is high,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Local Government and Housing, thus said more detailed criteria would be revealed soon.
In view of the current improving situation in Sarawak, he also expressed hope that the economy in the State could be revived as soon as possible.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting was also one of the invited guests to the Facebook live session. — DayakDaily
