KUCHING, May 9: Sarawak has allowed selected economic sectors to operate and resume businesses starting from May 12.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the decision was made following a detailed report presented to the committee by the director of the State Health Department.
“The guidelines for standard operating procedures (SOP) is prepared and will be communicated to all the parties which include all the permitted activities.
“Any parties who wish to operate their businesses need to notify SDMC or the respective District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC),” he said during a press conference today.
However, he said they need not have to apply for the permit to operate from SDMC.
Uggah explained the relaxation to allow businesses to resume operations during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period was made after taking into consideration the public health and the interest of the people.
As a result, he disclosed that SDMC requires businesses to follow and comply with the SOPs which are being formulated.
He revealed that local council, the police, Civil Defence personnel, and members of the Peoples’ Volunteer Corps (Rela) will be keeping an eye and enforcing that businesses are following the SOPs strictly to prevent any Covid-19 in the workplace.
Uggah emphasised that stern action will be taken against business owners and entrepreneurs who did not comply with the SOPs.
Uggah disclosed that the SOP for food and beverage as well as the retail sectors will be published in the newspaper in due course.
At the same time, State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing explained the six criteria which were made to allow businesses to resume operations.
Those include the consideration that Covid-19 situation in Sarawak is under control, the capacity of the healthcare facilities to handle Covid-19 cases, risk minimisation procedures during a special situation, preventive measures and the control of imported cases.
Dr Chin revealed that all the criteria were taken into consideration by SDMC before allowing businesses to resume operations from May 12 onwards.—DayakDaily
