SIBU: Jan 28: Tougher enforcement by the police and the fear of contacting Covid-19 have resulted in lesser traffic around Sibu town.
With the Movement Control Order (MCO) being extended to Feb 14, Sibu residents now acknowledged that only they can flatten the curve or else face another extension if the situation does not improve.
In the meantime, UTC Sibu (Urban Transformation Centre) which is located in the central market will remain close during the MCO period, and this also contributed to the drop in both human and road traffic.
The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) wet market near the Civic Centre also experience a drop in customers and this is a testimony that the people are moving around less.
With Chinese New Year festival around the corner, SMC chairman Clarence Ting said the council will impose crowd control from Jan 30 onwards by limiting the number of visitors into the market at any one time.
Sibu district police chief, ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit when contacted today noted with all the efforts put in, the volume of traffic has nosedived by about 50% as compared to a week ago.
He said Sibu residents now travel to the town area only when necessary to buy essential items.
He added that the requirement for police permit for workers of companies under essential services also contributed to the reduction of the traffic.
There is however no time line for these companies to apply for the police permit as companies could do so during this MCO.
“We have set up seven roadblocks along routes in and out of the town. We are also conducting spot checks every day at Jalan Channel (infront of the central market) and at other places around the town,” he said.
The spot checks were to ensure that there are not more than two persons in a car at one time. For those who were in the town for no special purposes, they would be advised to stay at home instead.
ACP Stanley said they would not hesitate to issue compound against violators of MCO, citing that three persons including a 32-year old woman were compounded on Jan 26 after they were caught loitering in the town late at night. — DayakDaily
