KUCHING, Jan 28: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth chief Michael Tiang urges the federal government to immediately approve funding for a Public Health Laboratory in Sarawak.
In view of the worrying Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, Tiang pointed out that such a lab is available in Sabah, and hence wondered why Sarawak does not have such a facility.
“In the past, all blood samples collected from Sarawak had to be sent to Kuala Lumpur for tests. The blood sample for the recent (suspected) Bintulu coronavirus case had to be sent to Kuala Lumpur for further tests, meaning it will take a longer time for the result (to be known),” he opined in a statement.
Tiang asserted that the laboratory is an important facility to support public health, yet until today, Sarawak has no domestic access to such a facility in order to be able to provide quick assistance in critical situations like a virus outbreak.
He also urged the public health authority to set up thermo scanners at the Sibu airport as soon as possible to ensure Sibu remains free from the Wuhan coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Tiang applauded the decision by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg that the Sarawak government would consider allocating special funds to purchase face masks to tackle the outbreak in Sarawak.
“I would like to further suggest to our Sarawak government to stock up face masks from time to time to ensure the state will always have a sufficient supply in times of critical situations like this,” he added. — DayakDaily
