SIBU, June 16: Hock Peng Group’s generous gesture has helped the state government save RM1.2 million in accommodation and food expenses when quarantining returning students.
According to Sibu Resident Charles Siaw, the group had permitted two of its hotels — Li Hua Hotel and Medan Hotel — located near the Sibu Bus Terminal to be used as temporary quarantine centres to house students returning to the state during Movement Control Order (MCO) and Conditional MCO (CMCO) period from May 2 to June 16.
Speaking to reporters after witnessing a ceremony to sanitise the two hotels today, Siaw revealed a total of 202 rooms in the two hotels were utilised for quarantine.
“We wish to express our great appreciation to Hock Peng Group, especially its managing director Datuk Toh Chiew Hock, his only brother Pemanca Datuk Toh Chiew Peng, deputy managing director and younger sister, Toh Leh Bin, and the directors of Li Hua Hotel and Medan Hotel chains who have very generously offered to let us use the two hotels with a total of 202 rooms as temporary quarantine centres free of charge since May 2 until today, which is for a total of 46 days,” he said.
The hotels also provided three halal meals daily free of charge throughout the quarantine period to the students.
Siaw disclosed a total of 1,133 Sarawakian students of which 525 were from Sibu Division and 608 from other divisions, including Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Mukah and Kapit who had returned from West Malaysia and Labuan have benefitted from the the hotel group’s generous gesture.
“We are happy to add that during the whole quarantine period, there was no positive case of Covid-19 detected among the students or our supporting staff,” he added.
Siaw gave assurance that the hotels are safe for guests to stay in after the disinfection exercise was completed.
“In compliance with our Standard Operating Procedures and safety precautions, during the temporary quarantine period, the hotel facilities including reception, the cleaning, sanitising and laundry services were operated by the well trained and experienced staff from various agencies, such as the Health Department, Civil Defence Force, police and Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps),” he said. — DayakDaily
