KUCHING: No one knows when the Covid-19 pandemic will end but activities — including elections — must go on for the future of Sarawak.
“Thus, the concept of reopening safely is very important,” said Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman on Thursday (Nov 4).
“Life activities mean our children’s education, our business activities, especially the small businesses and hawkers, sports and social activities, religious activities and also the people’s right to choose their government, that is, elections,” he said.
He emphasised that in whatever people do, it is their responsibility to ensure that what they are doing is safe.
At the same time, he said balance must be struck as what people thought was the safest might not tally with the needs of daily life.
“For example, the best way to curb the spread of Covid-19 is to tighten our borders but this does not go well with the needs of the people — families wanting to visit or come back to Sarawak, students coming back to Sarawak, business activities halted due to this restriction, and so on.
“So, we need to find a balance,” he said.
As such, the relevant parties in various sectors or activities must take all necessary precautions.
In the case of elections, Fazzrudin said not only the Election Commission and the Health Ministry, but also political parties must play an important role by adhering to standard operating procedures and ensure that safety measures are taken.
“Also, schools have to take all necessary measures and the same goes for business owners, sports organisers, religious bodies, and so on,” he said.