MIRI – Not everyone is happy with the Sarawak government’s move to reopen its borders to foreign workers.
Baram People’s Action Committee chairman Philip Jau told The Vibes that it is akin to asking for more coronavirus infections from across the border.
The state government seems to have forgotten that Indonesia and the Philippines are still plagued by Covid-19, just like Sarawak, he said.
“Sarawak gets most of its foreign workers from Indonesia and the Philippines.
“This can be seen in the plantation, logging, and housing and road construction sectors throughout the state.
“The latest move to allow up to 27,000 foreign workers to return to Sarawak is like asking for more trouble.
“Will Sarawak be able to thoroughly screen these 27,000 foreign workers to ensure they do not carry the virus into our state?”
Not all of the 200,000 foreign workers already in Sarawak have been tested for Covid-19, he added.
State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas on Wednesday said Sarawak decided to allow foreign workers in due to strong demand from many private companies.
“There are applications for 27,000 foreign workers needed by the plantation, construction, heavy industrial and service sectors, as well as the food sector.
“We are allowing these foreign workers back in starting March 1, but they must follow all SOPs strictly.”
Jau questioned how Uggah is going to guarantee that the firms bringing in foreign workers will abide by health and safety rules.
“There are migrant workers entering Sarawak illegally using rat trails along our 1,000km border with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“Many of them are already working illegally in rural estates in Sarawak.
“The state government should first locate them and screen them for Covid-19 before opening the border to more foreign workers.”
The state has registered 84 virus deaths out of more than 10,000 infections. – The Vibes, March 5, 2021
