DEPUTY Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has lambasted Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) for accusing the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) of double standards in enforcing the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Uggah explained that the SOP for VIPs or officials was necessary to enable them to perform official duties during the enforcement of movement control order (MCO), and not merely a privilege for VIPs.
Following this, he mentioned that Chong has no moral rights to question the SOP because he was given the same right and privilege on Oct 2, Aug 29 and May 25 which permitted him for travel restriction exemption.
“Yes, we follow the SOP and that SOP is implemented until today. So why do you question it (now)? You question it because of politics, because you thought tomorrow is the state election,” he told the DUN sitting during his winding up speech on the proposed Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Bill.
He also reiterated that the proposed Bill was meant to modify the relevant provisions in the ordinance referred to in the schedule and to provide ample time to rakyat to exercise their rights under respective state laws.
“This Bill is also to address the inability to perform statutory duties or obligations or to conduct statutory meetings during the imposition of the movement control orders.
“Most of the issues raised by the Honourable Members (from DAP) were irrelevant to this Bill. So, I’m tempted to sit down and just let all of you vote. But I think some of the accusations are too heavy not to be answered,” he said during the debate session of the Bill.
He also lamented Violet Yong (DAP-Pending) who implied that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government has cheated the people in regards to the Covid-19 government aids such as food packages and Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid packages (BKSS).
To this, Uggah stressed that the allegation was false and misleading as it was without facts and that the state government has never cheat the people.
“Whatever we (GPS) promised, we will always fulfil, and it is proven. Not like your side, where are your promises?
“So, my advice to you is do not criticise. I agree with Padungan (Wong King Wei) just now and I appreciate his opinion that this (Covid-19) is a big issue. Managing this issue is not easy,” he said.
Uggah also took his time to share that SDMC was initially formed under the leadership of the previous deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
He mentioned that the committee was chaired at the federal level under National Disaster Management Committee, before the state was given the authority to manage it.
“SDMC members include members from various federal and state agencies including the police and armed forces. I started in SDMC since day one. If I had the right to refuse (to become SDMC chairman), I think I should have refused it. It’s a very tough job.
“The road that we are traveling on has never been travelled by anyone before. Our responsibility is very heavy, to oversee the mechanism and system to contain Covid-19, because it is a challenge to balance between health and economy,” said Uggah.
