Be appreciative of what the CM is doing
KUCHING: People should be appreciative of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent visit to Kapit instead of looking for faults to criticise, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
“Our chief minister went there because he was too concerned about the threat of Covid-19 not only in Kapit but throughout the state,” he said in a statement today.
He was responding to Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) potential candidate for Pelagus Datuk Kristoffer Nyuak Bajok who called upon the Health Ministry (MoH) to conduct mandatory swab tests for attendees at the chief minister’s function in Kapit last Thursday.
Kristoffer said holding a gathering amidst the movement control order (MCO) was unwise, uncalled for, and against the lockdown standard operating procedure (SOP).
However, the Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports and Balai Ringin assemblyman asserted that every necessary precaution was taken care of and complied with before the chief minister and his entourage made the trip.
He pointed out that even Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas was there to ensure there were no lapses on the part of SDMC and the organising committee.
He emphasised that Abang Johari was in Kapit for good reasons – to gain first-hand information and to be briefed on the status of the vaccination programme in Kapit by MoH.
Aside from this, he noted that there was also a symbolic handing over of food baskets under the recently announced Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 6.0 package.
“He also visited the Malaysian Armed Forces field hospital to see the readiness and if any other facilities are required. These are all for the good of the people in Kapit.
“Our chief minister was on the ground witnessing the situation but Kristoffer chose to come out loud criticising from afar and not knowing the ground situation at that material time,” he said.
Snowdan said there were no large gatherings and no issue of double standard as alleged. Moreover, he said during the occasion, the SOPs were strictly adhered to.
“These are mere wild accusations by PSB. This is their ploy to gain political mileage,” he countered.
