SIBU, April 21: The Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee has made two changes to SOPs following the expansion of the EMCO from seven zones to encompass the whole district.
Kanowit and Selangau districts are also placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) which takes effect from 12.01am on April 22 to 11.59pm on April 26.
Speaking at a press conference here today, SDDMC chairman Wong Hee Sieng said the changes are that essential service providers are no longer required to apply for police permits to operate and that the central market is allowed to open but only for stalls selling essential items.
Those present at the press conference included Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting and his deputy Bujang Abdul Majid, and Sibu District police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit and his deputy Supt Collin Babat.
“We are now doing away with the requirement for police permits for essential service sectors to operate at 50 per cent capacity. So there is no need for you to go to the police station to apply for the permit anymore,” he said.
He explained that a police permit is not required as workers are travelling to their workplace which is within their respective zone.
Businesses not classified as essential services are not allowed to operate.
Wong emphasised that a police permit however is still needed for interdistrict travel. The approval for the permit is at the discretion of the police.
Meanwhile, on the rationale to extend the EMCO to the whole division, he said it was due to the spike in Covid-19 cases.
“We have decided to extend the EMCO as the three zones—Sibu, Kanowit and Selangau—have seen an increase of cases since the last few weeks. We hope through the implementation of EMCO, we can flatten the curve,” he said.
Wong who is also Acting Sibu Resident said the authorities would review the status of the EMCO from time to time depending on the Covid-19 situation in these three locations.
“We might extend the EMCO if the condition is still not good,” he said.
Members of the public who want to know more details of the SOP for the EMCO may contact the Sibu Covid-19 Operation Room at 013-9994158 or 084-323224. — DayakDaily
