SIBU, Jan 29: Sibu Jaya residents are advised to stay calm and fully cooperate with the police should the township be put under lockdown.
Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said in the event of a total lockdown nobody will be allowed to leave Sibu Jaya without police permission.
Sempurai said this as from what he had gathered, the number of possible positive PCR tests in Sibu Jaya is expected to escalate.
Sibu Jaya is one of the biggest and most successful newly planned townships in Sarawak. It has an estimated population of over 30,000 and more than 7000 units of houses/commercial buildings in Sibu Jaya are registered as rateable properties.
In anticipation of a possible lockdown, he called the residents to work together to overcome this challenge.
He also said: “In the likely event that PCR swab tests are necessary, all residents in Sibu Jaya must voluntarily come forward to receive the PCR swab tests in an orderly manner. All residents must strictly practice SOP.
Please stay at home and do not leave your houses. At all times, no social gathering is allowed in Sibu Jaya,” he said.
He also called on the police to take stern action against violators of MCO by issuing heavy compounds without any warning.
The heavy compound, he said should also be imposed on businesses flouting the MCO.
“It is with much regret to note that many employers in Sibu Jaya, irrespective of whether they are providing essential services, are still operating with the full workforce.
“Under the rules and regulations of MCO, only businesses providing essential services are allowed to operate with a maximum of 30% workforce,” he said.
On the requirement for companies under essential service to apply for police permit, he said SRDC fully supports it.
“It is a good policy to deter those employers who adamantly operate with a full workforce.
“However, many people told us that the police should provide e-applications so that businessmen do not need to queue up outside the police stations,” he said. -DayakDaily
