KUCHING – Sarawak police today said they are ready to face state elections, even though they will not receive assistance from other states due to the restrictions on movement following the country's Covid-19 surge.
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said preparations for the polls have been under way since June, adding that law enforcement is ready for all eventualities.
“So far, I have been made to understand that the Sarawak police contingent will not receive assistance from outside due to Covid-19. However, with our current manpower, I am confident we are able to control security and hold a smooth election.”
“Apart from the existing assets, we will take initiatives to rent assets such as four-wheel-drive vehicles and longboats to reach remote polling stations,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after witnessing the handover of duties between new state deputy police commissioner Datuk Fisol Salleh and acting deputy commissioner SAC Mohd Hairuddin Che Hamid here, Aidi said that Sarawak police have begun placing orders for personal protective equipment (PPE), to ensure there is no repeat of the spike in Covid-19 cases that followed the Sabah elections in late September.
“We have started placing orders for PPE for our frontliners,” he said, adding a budget proposal has been submitted to Bukit Aman for approval.
In a separate development, Aidi said civil servants from Peninsular Malaysia who are working in Sarawak – especially teachers who will be on long leave during school holidays – can apply for police permits for interstate travel if they want to return home.
“Police will issue interstate permits for those from red zones and they are required to comply with the stipulated standard operating procedures, such as doing swab tests, to ensure they are free from Covid-19 before travelling,” he added. – Bernama, November 17, 2020
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