KUCHING, May 1: Sarawak’s decision on conditional movement control order (CMCO) will be announced after consultation with the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said he has contacted the chief minister’s private secretary to set up an appointment to meet Abang Johari and discuss on the implementation of CMCO in the state.
“We need to deliberate on the conditional MCO. Once we have our decision, which should favour our people’s well being and the state’s economy, we will make an announcement.
“I need to discuss with the chief minister first before I can comment,” he told reporters after monitoring the standard operating procedure (SOP) of receiving Sarawakian tertiary students from Peninsular Malaysia at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) today.
Uggah was responding to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Labour Day address, stating that almost all economic sectors and businesses would be allowed to reopen subject to strict conditions under CMCO come May 4.
He said that based on advice from the Health Ministry, and based on collected data and the best practice guide stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the government has decided to reopen economic sectors cautiously by implementing stringent health standard operating procedure (SOP).
However, Muhyiddin said that several categories that required large gatherings and physical contact, where social distancing could not be controlled, will not be allowed to operate.
Among businesses which are not allowed to reopen, he added, included cinemas, karaoke outlets, reflexology centres, entertainment outlets, night clubs, theme parks, Ramadan bazaars, Aidilfitri bazaars, sales carnival as well as all forms of conferences and exhibitions.
Meanwhile, the first batch of 287 Sarawakian students from Peninsular Malaysia has returned to the state today and they will be quarantined or undergo home surveillance for 14 days.
Uggah revealed that 26 out of the 287 students would be quarantined in hotels here first, as they were going back to green zones, while the rest were going back to their homes in Kuching and Serian, which are red and yellow zones.
He said he was pleased with the management done by the Civil Defence Department, the police, KIA authority, Health Department and other relevant agencies. — DayakDaily
