By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, July 29: Only individuals who have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and aged above 12 are allowed to enter the four nature reserves which Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) have opened to the public.
In a social media post today, SFC said this is in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the Health Ministry. It also pointed out that children of age 12 and below are prohibited to enter parks under its jurisdiction for the time being until further notice.
SFC further stressed that the four nature reserves across Sarawak—Same Jaya Nature Reserve, Kuching, Bukit Lima Nature Reserve, Sibu, Piasau Nature Reserve, Miri and Bukit Sembiling Nature Reserve, Limbang—which are currently open to the public are meant for physical exercise and jogging only.
Sarawak, like the rest of Malaysia, is now under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) which states that apart from physical exercise and jogging, other activities such as guided or unguided ecotourism tours; trekking outside authorised trails; touching, distributing or feeding wildlife; picnicking and children’s playground recreational activities are still not allowed.
Other activities such as religious and social functions, seminars, workshops, training and exhibitions which are sometimes carried out in parks and nature reserves are also not permitted for the time being.
Commercial filming and field research in these protected areas will only be allowed with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee’s approval.
When entering the four nature reserves, the Health Ministry’s SOP specifies that visitors must keep physical distancing of one meter, wear masks, undergo temperature checks and practise thorough hand-washing.
Visitors must also obtain admission cards before entry as not more than 100 pax are allowed at any one time where a maximum of 50 visitors allowed in the morning and 50 in the afternoon, depending on the discretion of the park warden in charge.
These four nature reserves are open from 7am to 11am and 2pm to 6pm. — DayakDaily
