By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 18: All Malaysian citizens and non-citizens entering Sarawak from or through Sabah will be required to take Covid-19 test three days prior to their journey.
This order, which also applies to Sabahans and Sarawakians, will come into effect beginning Sept 21.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas explained that travellers will also need to fill in ‘EnterSarawak’ form online and provide necessary supporting documents.
“As for Sarawakians who need to commute between Brunei and Sabah for work purposes, they are required to obtain a special letter from their Divisional Disaster Management Committee respectively (Miri and Limbang).
“They are also required to take Covid-19 test every two weeks in addition to adhering with standard operating procedures (SOP) provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH),” he told a press conference on Covid-19 today.
For Sarawakians returning from overseas, Uggah said they will be quarantined at ‘first point of entry’ in Sarawak and will not be allowed to transit to their final destination.
“As for Malaysians taking flight from Penang, they will be randomly picked for Covid-19 test upon arrival at Kuching International Airport (KIA),” he added.
Meanwhile, oil and gas sector workers who have been in Sarawak for 30 days and needed to return to the oil rigs offshore will no longer need to take the Covid-19 test.
“However, for workers from outside Sarawak, they will need to take the Covid-19 test and comply with existing SOP,” Uggah elaborated.
Foreign workers in the construction sector and plantations as well as foreign students will be allowed to enter Sarawak subjected to terms and conditions.
“They must have a valid working permit or tertiary education enrolment. They also need to apply with SDMC (case by case) and fill in the ‘EnterSarawak’ online form.
“The cost of quarantine for 14 days and two times Covid-19 tests will be paid by the companies or students or institutions.
“The companies and institutions will have to ready transportation to bring the workers from point of entry to the quarantine centre,” he said. — DayakDaily
