KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is puzzled over accusation made by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen that Sarawak did not comply with the federal government’s or the Ministry of Health’s Standard Operation Procedure (SOP).
On the contrary, Uggah said, the State Disaster Management Committee SOP is over and above the Ministry of Health’s SOP.
“Our policy is Sarawak first, we have decided from the onset or day one of the outbreak, to have our own SOP and strategies which suit our state geographical landscape and unique circumstances that may arise from time to time.
“We also have experienced medical officers to advise us and who sit on our committee,” he said.
For instance an announcement was made on Jan 27, of Sarawak deciding to bar any foreigners who had been to China from entering Sarawak, he stressed.
Uggah pointed out that it has been the policy of the committee to urge all those who had had close contact or were involved in the Covid-19 clusters to report to government hospitals in the state.
“And
we have been very consistent on this.
When we were informed that the Tabligh Sri Petaling cluster had been identified
as one of the main sources of transmission, we had appealed to all those who
had participated in that gathering or those in close contact with the participants
to report to any government hospital.
“The intention is pure and simple, to detect as many as possible. In other words, to allow us to do the very crucial contacts tracing,” he added.
Uggah who is also the State Disaster Management Committee chairman said Covid-19 is known the world over as a very contagious sickness.
“Lest people forget, we already have three fatalities in our midst, and yesterday we had another 10 positive cases to add to the 68 registered earlier. Of the 68, it has been established that at least 42 cases are from one particular cluster.
“Thus, we have been consistent in continuing to track any contact so that we can take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the unabated spread of the virus.
“With this in mind I made the call during my televised media conference on March 19, to urge all those who had had close contact with all four clusters in the state to come forward. Our objective is crystal clear,” Uggah stressed.
“We should not and cannot worry over the number of people answering our call and coming to the hospitals. We have plans to ensure we can handle the crowd,” he added.
He also said the most important issue was to track those concerned so as to allow for medical advice, including the need for quarantine to take place.
He said with the information gathered, the committee can then do the follow-up and the monitoring, to control any possible transmission to others.
“This is an integral part of our agenda to curb the spread of the Covid-19.
“This is different from the then PH government’s policy which took things for granted and they ironically welcomed the Chinese tourists and visitors from mainland China without the need for screening or SOP to monitor their state of health,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“While, he (Chong) had painted a black picture of our policy for reasons best known to himself, we had noted with interest that he and YB Kelvin Yii had voluntarily gone to the SGH for Covid-19 screening.
“Had he been a responsible leader, he would have brought all those in close contact to go to the hospital for screening. But he did not. Perhaps he alone knows the answer.
“The Covid-19 transcends races, religions,
countries or politics. The less the sincere efforts to eradicate it are
politicised, the more can be done for the good of all.
“It puzzles me as to why YB Chong Chieng Jen is making an issue of my announcement.”
