By Adrian Lim
TEBEDU, July 28: Sarawak contributed seven tanks of oxygen measuring 105 tonnes to West Kalimantan to assist the Indonesian province in its fight against Covid-19.
Following a request from the Indonesian government to the Malaysian government for additional oxygen supplies due to the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country recently, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing said the Malaysia government through Sarawak has agreed to deliver some of the additional oxygen supplies to West Kalimantan.
“Based on humanitarian grounds and diplomatic ties as well as close cooperation between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, the Sarawak government has agreed to provide the additional supply of oxygen to West Kalimantan.
“We are delivering four tanks of oxygen supply today and before that, we delivered three tanks of oxygen supply on July 23 and 24 respectively making a total of seven tanks,” Masing said in his speech prior to witnessing the hand over of oxygen tanks from Sarawak to West Kalimantan at the Immigration Complex and Quarantine Centre (ICQ) here today.
Subsequently, Masing told reporters that Sarawak at present has adequate oxygen supplies to handle the Covid-19 situation in the State while keeping some supplies as reserves to be used during emergencies.
Masing, who is also the Sarawak Border Security Committee (SBSC) chairman revealed that the supply of oxygen on the Sarawak side was handled by Linde-EOX Sdn Bhd from Kuching while PT Matesu Abadi and PT Saranak Fasih Nusantara from West Kalimantan managed the transportation and delivery of oxygen in Indonesia.
Masing was representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the ceremony to symbolically hand over the oxygen tanks to Indonesia at Tebedu.
Present at the handover ceremony were Tebedu assemblyman Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong, Deputy State Secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail and representatives from Indonesia and West Kalimantan. — DayakDaily
