KUCHING: Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) allowed lion dance performances during the first four days of Chinese New Year (CNY) and on Chap Goh Mei (Feb 15) after taking into consideration the low number of COVID-19 and recommendations of health experts.
Its advisor Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said Deputy Chief. Minister and SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had taken the recommendations of the medical experts into consideration and revised the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the lion dance.
“Uggah has also taken into consideration the voice of the Chinese community and the cultural needs,” he said when met after the media appreciation programme organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian Division Sarawak at its office, City Square, Jalan Pending, on Tuesday (Jan 25).
Having said that, Dr Sim said the people must take all the necessary steps to ensure a safe CNY celebration.
“We still have COVID-19 around and at this point of time, the number is low because we have been encouraging people to do self-testing and when they are found to be positive they just do self-isolation (unless the person’s situation is worse) and do not report to the authority.
“This is part of us moving forward and living with the virus,” said Dr Sim, who is the Deputy Chief Minister.
He said he wanted to see the CNY celebration observed under strict SOP compliance.
“We want it to be as successful as our Sarawak election, under strict SOP, because after the election there was no surge in cases.
“After CNY in Sarawak, we also do not want any surge. Therefore, this requires everybody’s cooperation to stick to the SOP.
“So, please stay safe, have good health, only then you can have happiness and prosperity,” he said.
On another note, Dr Sim said that he was looking forward to the COVID-19 immunisation programme for children aged five to 11 which is expected to start after Feb 3.
“I just hope that with the vaccination of this age group we can provide a safer environment for school children.
“The Omicron COVID-19 variant is very infectious and no matter how many facilities we build, we still do not have as many hospital facilities as in West Malaysia,” he said.
