KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang has urged food premises to soak cutlery such as forks, spoons, and chopsticks in hot water to sanitise them before being used by customers.
“I encourage all food outlets and coffeeshops to practise this when serving the public,” he said, noting that cutlery was often left openly on tables at many coffeeshops under the council’s jurisdiction.
He said this during a press conference via Zoom after the MPP full council meeting today.
Lo added that it was compulsory for all employees at business premises to wear face masks when working. He reminded business premises to maintain cleanliness at all times and be sanitised regularly.
He said he noticed that lately, most – if not all – public toilets in Padawan were very clean, including those at petrol stations and coffeeshops.
“I hope that it is not just because of Covid-19 that we maintain this level of cleanliness. I hope we can continue this good habit and practise this level of hygiene in the future as well,” urged Lo.
Lo said the community had to continue practising the standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as social distancing, wearing face masks and good hygiene to ensure safety.
He pointed out that MPP had been taking all necessary measures such as checking on markets, ensuring that temperature checks were conducted, and making sure overcrowding did not occur.
“MPP takes this Covid-19 issue and the SOPs very seriously. So far, there have been no 14-day closures for places under MPP’s jurisdiction and we have been doing well,” he said.
On another matter, he shared statistics from Immigration Department Sarawak regarding arrests of undocumented immigrants in Padawan.
“From January 1 to August 6 this year, a total of 16 locations in Padawan were checked, involving 191 foreigners. Of these, 62 (undocumented immigrants) were arrested,” he said.
Lo also shared statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) on crime in the area as well as information from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak.
“From 2018 to June this year, there were 114 people under surveillance in Padawan,” he said, referring to statistics reported by AADK Sarawak.
He said members of the public who wished to contact any of these agencies regarding relevant matters in Padawan could call the following telephone numbers:
- Immigration Samarahan Branch: 082-428606
- Padawan District Police Headquarters (IPD Padawan) Operations Room: 082-862234
- AADK Kuching: 082-233540
