Always be prepared, expect the unexpected.
–ANONYMOUS
We are 28 days into our movement control order (MCO) and have another 14 days to go if there is no extension.
These past 28 days I am sure have been a challenge for us as individuals. However, for the Sarawak government and the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, I am sure it has been an enormous task and even bigger challenge. The many plans, issues and requests that need to be considered and executed surely must truly be mindboggling.
It is important to have an effective strategy to deal with the current pandemic. In my opinion, our Chief Minister has taken the ‘bull by the horns’ and is dealing with it very well. Together with his able ministers, he has gone out of the way to minimise the negative effects of the MCO on the people and the businesses in Sarawak.
This is evident by the many economic and care measures that have been rolled out and updated from time to time. The response time to the problems faced by Sarawakians has been very quick indeed.
Previously, the disasters we have faced in Sarawak have mostly been floods, haze, landslides, rabies and some of these have been in pockets or localised areas. However, all the disasters we have faced in Sarawak in the past pales into the background in comparison to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The momentous task of managing the Covid-19 pandemic here falls on the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
I was fortunate to sit in on a disaster management meeting on haze issues in Miri City chaired by Datuk Amar Douglas a few months ago and saw him managing the issue in a concise and to the point manner. His experience and professionalism came through clearly. This is now showing by his management and mitigation of the Covid-19 pandemic here.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee is also fortunate to have the medical experience of Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, the Minister of Local Government and Housing. His ministry also has the health portfolio in Sarawak. The local councils are playing an essential role to ensure their core functions are carried out properly.
In Miri Division, the Disaster Management Committee, chaired by Datuk Lee Kim Shin, sits daily to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. I have had the opportunity to submit some requests and opinions to him. I am sure the quick action by him and his team (made up of all the Miri based federal and Sarawak government agencies) is most welcomed by the people impacted by the MCO.
For many of us, the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting MCO have been a steep learning curve on many fronts. From social behaviour to work to managing economic hardship. While many previous disasters only affected pockets of people, this pandemic has, in one way or another, left its mark on all of us.
I am sure that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee has also undergone a steep learning curve. This pandemic and the MCO can be considered to be a ‘black swan’ event for Sarawak. Taking this into consideration and from the feedback I have received, the Sarawak government has indeed lived up to its duties and responsibilities to its people. There are of course pockets of issues that need to be ironed out.
The increasing frequency of all modes of disasters and emerging threats and trends are a source of concern. This pandemic has shown that everyone can fall into the category of ‘vulnerable’.
Therefore, devising strategies and designing ways to deal with foreseen disasters and the ‘black swan’ type disasters is nowadays an essential government service.
An effective disaster management strategy must, therefore, be able to identify the many challenges we might face and put into place the plans, resources and tools to overcome the anticipated disaster. This will ensure that in the future less time and effort will be required to help our people.
We must also build up our own capacity and decrease our reliance on external sources.
We have to build up our own strategic stockpiles of essential items, such as medical equipment and basic but essential items like masks and sanitisers. There must also be an urgent decentralisation of medical expertise and facilities.
It is obvious that we need to make a significant investment in our healthcare facilities. We have to build more facilities and do this right up into our rural areas.
If there is concern about the cost of all these future disaster preparedness strategies and initiatives, well, just imagine what the final total cost of the next pandemic and MCO will be.
Investing in future disaster risk reduction is not an option anymore, but a necessity. We should start with our healthcare infrastructure.
From a personal point of view, syabas to the Sarawak government for managing this crisis well.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
