KUCHING: The state High Court has been urged not to allow the Court Registry and Commissioners, including law firms, to operate until May 12.
In a press statement issued yesterday, president of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), Voon Lee Shan, said that the High Court should not follow Chief Judge Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s directive.
“One life lost is more precious than all revenues collected by the Registry. This is Sarawak and Sarawak Security Council should take charge and any directive affecting the lives and security of the people of Sarawak must be done with consultation and decision of the state government. The Chief Judge should be mindful of this protocol,” he said in a press statement.
Voon pointed out that the safety of Sarawakians lies with the state government which knows better as the country had not yet won the fight against Covid-19.
“As such, political masters and heads of government departments should not make decisions hastily concerning the relaxation of lockdown without decision from medical experts, and many medical experts are against relaxation at the moment,” he said.
Taking the example of what happened in the northern part of Hokkaido in Japan he said there was a sudden surge of Covid-19 infections after the local lockdown was lifted.
“We need to be mindful that the state does not have sufficient test kits and manpower to conduct Covid-19 tests, and there could be many who had contracted the disease.
“We also do not have the manpower and facilities to look after the victims as many in the frontline especially medical workers have contracted the virus and this had caused shortage of medical staff in hospitals,” he said.
Additionally, Voon asserted that as there was still no cure for the disease, any relaxation of the lockdown would not be a wise move.
