KUCHING: Only a maximum of 30 people are allowed to be at the funeral site and a maximum of 50 people are allowed to attend the funeral ceremony in conditional movement control order (CMCO) areas.
For movement control order (MCO) areas, only immediate family members are allowed for both burial and funeral ceremonies.
This was announced by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at the daily Covid-19 update press conference today.
“I know the issue of funeral is very sensitive and a lot of those who passed away had a lot of relatives all over Sarawak.
“But at this particular time and situation where the number of cases has reached three digits and there are cases detected from attending such ceremony, therefore we sadly beg the people to comply with the new ruling.
“We hope families concerned understand. It is a very painful part for SDMC to make this type of ruling because we understand, it is a very sentimental and difficult decision but under this circumstances, please try to understand us,” he said.
He also mentioned the standard operating procedure (SOP) guidelines for funerals can be obtained from the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) and the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
Uggah further said all movements in and out of green zones will be tightened by the police.
“Apart from that, all social gatherings in villages and longhouses are prohibited be it in MCO or CMCO areas,” he stressed.
In the meantime, Sarawak National Security Council (MKN) director Sophian Isswandy Ismail explained that all economic sectors are allowed to operate in CMCO areas while in Sibu, which is under MCO implementation, only 38 or 39 sectors are allowed.
“For operation hours, CMCO areas are allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm. But in MCO areas or Sibu, it is limited to 8pm only,” he said when speaking at the same press conference in efforts to resolve public confusion.
He also said all social activities are not allowed in Sibu while in CMCO areas, only activities that involve physical contact or large groups are not allowed.
“For movement, inter-zone travels are not allowed. This means if we wish to go out from Kuching, Samarahan or Serian divisions which is considered one zone, police permit is needed.
“The approval for the inter-zone movement is also subjected to the police’s discretion and applies to essential services only. Our intention is to control social movements, not economic movement,” he added.
