KUCHING: All ketua masyarakat and ketua kampung (KMKK) have been mobilised and empowered to play a role in the war against Covid-19 at the grassroots level.
“We do not have enough enforcement officers to cover all villages and longhouses in the state. That is why we empower the KMKK and they have been playing their part,” said Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said KMKK were mobilised to play a role in enforcement and supervision, as well as advising residents under their care.
He noted that there were some 6,000 villages and longhouses statewide and about 200 had been actively impacted by Covid-19.
Nevertheless, he said the number of longhouses involved during the fourth wave of infections was indeed startling.
“And because this situation is very challenging, we adjusted our strategy. For example, in Miri, earlier (those affected) were quarantined in the longhouse.
“Then it was discovered that this is not very effective, so they were moved to quarantine centres,” he said at SDMC’s Covid-19 update press conference on Friday (Mar 12).
On another matter, Uggah said today (Mar 13) marked the first anniversary of the first Covid-19 case reported in Sarawak.
“It has been a torturous and challenging year for everyone in Sarawak,” said Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister.
In conjunction with this, he thanked Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for his solid support and guidance to the committee in combating the pandemic.
“We would like to thank all the frontliners for their commitment and dedication in managing the pandemic. We would also like to thank the donors who have kindly assisted in cash and kinds,” he said.
In addition, he thanked all Sarawakians who had given SDMC their cooperation, support, and commitment in enduring the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during this difficult time.
He expressed condolences to the families of the 89 people in Sarawak who had lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past year.
“With the commencement of the vaccination programme, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
He reminded Sarawakians to be vigilant and follow the SOPs for the war is not over yet – “To win it, we need the cooperation and collaboration of all the people in Sarawak.”
