KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will deliberate on measures to tighten enforcements in efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in Sarawak with State Police Commissioner (CP) Datuk Aidi Ismail on Monday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas confirmed this when speaking at a daily Covid-19 press conference here today.
Uggah, who is Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman said the committee was aware of the worrying surge in the number of Covid-19 cases and clusters involving prison and learning institutions.
“The prison, police training centre or dormitories; these institutions have standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Based on investigation on the surge of cases in these institutions, we understand that the SOPs set were not strictly adhered to.
“Therefore, we did appeal to the top management of these institutions to follow closely the SOPs that have been set.
“But we are still doing investigation. Should there be any proof of negligence, the authority will take action [on the institutions] as a lesson to the others,” he said.
Uggah said SDMC have issued compound to a school principal in Miri because the latter was not only guilty of not wearing face mask but also organised a gotong-royong (communal work).
The committee had also issued compound to a police station in Miri for organising activity that violated the SOPs.
“SDMC especially the State Health Department (JKNS) will not hesitate to take action because it is time for us to be stricter in enforcing the SOPs.
“The virus is spreading because people are ignoring the SOPs during funerals, weddings, gatherings, gotong royong, etc. So we hope to tighten the enforcement,” he explained.
