BINTULU: Several areas of Sungai Plan, Jalan Tanjung Kidurong here were ringed with barbed wire after the area was declared under lockdown following implementation of enhanced movement control order (EMCO) effective May 22 to June 3.
Among the affected areas include the entire block of Sungai Plan flats, RPR Sungai Plan, Kampung Sungai Plan Lot as well as Kampung Setinggan Dayak Sungai Plan.
Bintulu Division Resident Jack Aman Luat said the installation of barbed wires was one of the measures to tighten security control in the area which had been declared as a high risk for Covid-19 infection.
“As of May 22, we recorded a total of 171 positive cases in the area through active case detection (ACD) screening implemented by the Bintulu Health Office.
“So, we will conduct a screening inspection on all residents in the area comprising more than 11,000 people,” he said.
He explained the drastic measure was taken not to make life difficult for the residents, but to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Aman, who is also the chairman of Bintulu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (JPBBB), added that if such an approach was not taken, it would be difficult for the committee to control the situation as there were many rat routes in the area.
Meanwhile, the installation of barbed wires in the settlement area was done by members of the 7th Border Regiment (RS) Battalion early this morning.
On March 6, a similar approach was taken on two rental house areas in Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, namely Rumah Sewa Among and Beverly Hill after the area was declared under lockdown.
Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing in his press conference today said the approach had to be taken as there was no other choice after the area had recorded positive Covid-19 cases daily.
“We have no choice. We have to ‘totally lockdown’ because it is a large area with a large population of over 10,000 people,” he said.
Tiong said during the ‘lockdown’ period, residents were not allowed to leave their homes while outsiders were not allowed to enter the settlement area.
The Progressive Democratic Party president said the residents were only allowed to go out for health matters, adding that his party would provide mobile clinic services at the security guard’s control tent to make it easier for the residents to get treatment or health checks.
