KUCHING, Nov 1: Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar) has appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah not to lift the state of emergency in Sarawak until its expiry on Feb 2, 2022.
Its president Dato Othman Abdillah in a press statement today said this would enable further responses to new Covid-19 threats as Sarawak is currently battling the spread of a Covid-19 sub-variant which is said to be even more dangerous than its parent Delta variant.
“Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak today sent a letter to DYMM SPB YDP Agong requesting for the emergency in Sarawak to remain in force until its stipulated expiry date in February 2022.
“Party Sedar’s stance that the emergency is maintained as long as the pandemic situation is still contagious and endangers the people is consistent with its statement as early as last July.
“Now, the situation seems to be more dangerous with the contagion of new sub-variants of the Delta parent variant.
“It should also be noted that Sarawak recorded the highest number of deaths in October this year from Covid-19 infections as well as the filling up of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) wards with Covid patients,” he said.
Othman added that despite the mass vaccination programme carried out by the government, getting vaccinated did not protect oneself from being infected with Covid-19.
He said with almost all movement restrictions now relaxed or lifted, the government should not endanger the lives of the people for any reason whatsoever.
To recap, the King on July 31 proclaimed a six-month emergency in Sarawak, from Aug 2 to Feb 2, 2022, in a move to tackle the surging Covid-19 cases in Sarawak then.
The proclamation effectively suspended the Sarawak Election which was due within 60 days of the expiry of the State Legislative Assembly term from Aug 2.
In a government gazette dated July 30, His Majesty decreed that the proclamation of the emergency is to suspend the State Election to curb further spread of Covid-19 infections. — DayakDaily
