KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth Wing is urging all politicians in Sarawak regardless of their political background to unite in the fight against Covid-19.
PBB Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu said that now is not the time to point fingers at who is not doing their job right in managing the pandemic in the state.
“Rather, everyone has his/her role to play and must work hand in glove with the government as well as the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to overcome the pandemic.
“SDMC, on the advice of health experts including the respective Divisional Disaster Management Committee, is doing its very best to manage the Covid-19 situation in the state.
“It is unfair to put the blame on SDMC. We must unite, follow the health standard operating procedures (SOPs) and fight this Covid-19 together,” he said in response to several quarters who have hit out on SDMC for not doing a job well done in managing the pandemic in the state.
He said Sarawak was able to overcome the first few waves of the pandemic last year and there were even days where zero cases were reported, and this was because everyone complied with the SOPs.
“We understand it is not easy and we have to make a lot of sacrifices. If we continue to breach the SOPs, we will be stuck like now until next year which is going to affect the livelihood of the people and more businesses will be shutting down.”
The Layar assemblyman added the government cannot go back in putting the country on total lockdown or else it would have a negative impact on the economy, while more people would be losing their jobs.
“We can see that gatherings and funerals have contributed to the high cases in the state and this is because of non-compliances with the SOPs.
“I went to a few funerals in Betong, some just drove by and dropped in donations and I think this is the best thing to do for now. I’m sorry to say, but this is the new norm that we need to follow,” he said.
He regretted the sabong ayam (illegal cockfighting) activities in Betong that contributed to high cases in the area, and therefore reminded the community to comply with the SOPs.
“We have done it before, and we can overcome this again together. We need to look after ourselves and those around us.
“We also want to state that we, as PBB Youth including the Women Wing, give our fullest support to SDMC and its chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Deputy Chief Minister in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.
Echoing Rentap’s view is his deputy Youth chief Miro Simuh. He slammed those who alleged that the Covid-19 pandemic was managed by politicians and should leave it to the experts instead.
Miro pointed out that SDMC comprised doctors such as Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hin as well as Sarawak Covid-19 Advisory Group (Scovag) chairman Professor Datuk Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawie and other health experts.
The Serembu assemblyman said the issue was non-compliance with the SOPs, and if people are still stubborn, the situation would not improve.
“We are not talking about the responsibility of SDMC, the army, police, or health department … it is everyone’s responsibility now.
“So, please, stop the blame game, forget about political inclination, we should unite to combat this virus together,” he said.
Meanwhile, PBB Youth treasurer Allan Siden Gramong urged the people to follow strictly the SOPs as it is one of the ways to prevent the Covid-19 transmission.
“I also hope that the people, particularly netizens, will stop saying things without facts or pointing fingers at the top leaders because they are working everyday to ensure the safety of the people.
“I feel pity for SDMC, they have no rest at all. As such, our part as people of Sarawak is to help by following the SOPs in order to break the chain,” said the Machan assemblyman.
