Fine-tuned CMCO SOPs to suit local situation, says Uggah
KUCHING: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has announced that it will follow the conditional movement control order (CMCO), but with a strategy to fine-tune standard operating procedures (SOPs) to suit the local situation in Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said SDMC would first study the SOPs set by the federal government and refine them to suit the local conditions in various economic sectors in the state, then move on to familiarising all stakeholders with these SOPs and guidelines to ensure awareness and preparedness.
At the SDMC Covid-19 daily update press conference yesterday, he said that once these stakeholders understood the SOPs, the third stage would be operation.
“Once the operation is started, we will have to ensure that we have sufficient people to monitor, supervise and enforce,” he said, adding that SDMC would then study the types of operations which could be undertaken in Covid-19 green zones, as well as what conditions needed to be controlled in yellow and red zones.
On the time frame of the three stages of the state’s CMCO strategy, he said that SDMC would evaluate the situation as it is a very ‘fluid’ and ‘dynamic’ matter.
Reading an SDMC statement, he said that the state intended to ensure that activities no longer prohibited by the CMCO would be engaged in a manner that would not jeopardise the protection of public health.
He said that the state minister, charged with the responsibility over public health, could make an Order to regulate movement of people in the infected areas, as well as to prescribe measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
“This power is provided by Section 15 of the Protection of Public Health Ordinance 1998, which was enacted pursuant to the state’s legislative powers under Item 7 of the Concurrent List in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
“However, as local government, issuance of licences, business permits, etc is a state matter. The state will ensure that those activities comply with our local government laws and regulations, including those made under the Protection of Public Health Ordinance,” stated Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman.
He told reporters later that the Sarawak Minister of Local Government and Housing could exercise the power to suit the strategy, approach and measures taken befitting the conditions in the state.
“We want to suit the situation in Sarawak — what is suitable we will follow. Of course, we also have to consider economic issues and difficulties faced by the people, but public health is our top priority,” he stressed during the press conference.
When asked if the state government had been consulted on the implementation of the CMCO, he said that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had attended a meeting where Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin briefed attendees on the way forward, but at that time, the SOP was not ready yet.
“It was also mentioned that the SOP would be distributed later on, which is why our response was that we will study the SOP and find out which is suitable for Sarawak,” he said.
He said that the chief minister was well aware of the negative impact of the current situation on the economy.
“However, we have to weigh out between economic and health issues. The chief minister has his own plan and we will continue to announce now and then how we are going to continue slowly opening some of our economic activities,” he said, noting that some activities were ongoing.
Uggah also emphasised that whatever policy the state implemented, it has to be effective and to protect lives. “We are doing what is best for Sarawak.”
