By Nur Ashikin Louis
BINTULU, June 6: The police will investigate a Facebook post under the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 for spreading fake news which had allegedly instigated public commotion at Sg Plan here today.
Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing revealed a protest broke out at Sg Plan as local residents surrounded an entry point manned by enforcement personnel, expressing their dissatisfaction after allegedly being induced by the Facebook post.
Upon being informed of the situation, he had visited the site to inquire about the matter.
“I was made to understand that the irresponsible Facebook post implied that while the residents are undergoing the two week-long Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), Farley Supermarket and the Bintulu Bus Terminal were allowed to resume operation just one day after the EMCO was implemented which then instigated the local community’s outburst.
“Following this, I have explained that the two premises were allowed to operate earlier with a condition that they practise worker shift rotation system.
“When a group of workers has a confirmed positive case or close contact, this whole group will be prohibited from work and another group of workers will immediately replace all work positions so that the premises can continue to operate,” he told DayakDaily when contacted.
Tiong also disclosed that the local residents have also expressed dissatisfaction over the recent extension of the ongoing EMCO in the area until June 11.
Initially the EMCO in Sg Plan was scheduled to run from May 22 to June 4, before it was extended for another two days.
Subsequently, the authorities had announced an EMCO extension in the area until June 11 which also contributed to the local community’s outburst.
“It is understood that the residents were already in desperation over the two week-long EMCO, worrying about earning their household income and putting food on the table.
“All residents totalling up to about 13,000 had underwent swab tests and had complied with the directives from the authorities all this while,” Tiong added.
Tiong also noted that Ministry of Health (MOH) staff are also working hard to speed up sample testing.
“But we are now talking about dealing with 13,000 samples which have to be managed by the limited MOH staff in a short period of time.
“Following that, I had explained the whole situation to the residents and requested them to remain patient,” he added. — DayakDaily
