By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Apr 1: Electricians from Sarawak Energy are allowed to carry out repair works in areas facing power failure during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas clarified that the repair of electricity infrastructure is considered essential services.
“I was made to understand that in some areas, they (electricians) were not supposed to work after 7pm but please help as there were villages which has no electricity supply for two days,” he told a daily press conference on Covid-19 today.
He added that the committee will announce the setting up of fresh goods markets under Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) throughout Sarawak in the next couple of days.
“FAMA and my ministry (of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development) will work out on setting up of markets throughout Sarawak.
“This is to provide a place for farmers to sell their fresh produce and most importantly for people to get supply of fresh food like fish, vegetables and others but it will have to comply with social distancing and cleanliness issued by Health Department,” he said.
As for farmers and fishermen allowed to carry out their activities, Uggah added that the committee was making arrangements and understanding with police to enable trucks loaded with vegetables and fruits to pass through without permit, including between districts.
“Similarly, rubber plantations and pepper farmers are also allowed to go to the farms, except that there is problem where the farmer lives in Kuching and farm is in Bau so in that case we advise them to get permit to justify their empty lorries,” he explained.
On reports in world news regarding home pets being infected with Covid-19, Uggah advised people to be careful when playing with their pets as Sarawak is still fighting rabies.
On a related matter, he said that there were no complaints yet from clinics or hospitals in other districts on the delivery of medications because medicine, like food supply, was part of essential services. —DayakDaily
