KUCHING – There was no ill intent to stop Julau MP Larry Sng’s application to enter Sarawak as he alleged on his Facebook last night, said the state’s disaster management committee (SDMC) acting chairman, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, today.
In a statement, he said MPs fell under the essential service list where they would be exempted from quarantine with conditions.
According to Masing, Sng's application was incomplete in which it was stated in the decline page that he did not submit his real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result in his application.
“SDMC has enforced and made it compulsory for those intending to enter Sarawak to apply through EnterSarawak and E-Health Declaration to safeguard the state during this (Covid-19) pandemic.
“For Members of Parliament attending the parliament sitting, a special SOP (standard operating procedure) to exempt them from quarantine was implemented to allow MPs to better serve their constituents and people,” he said.
Masing said that for an essential service to be exempted, the MPs would have to undergo a RT-PCR Covid-19 test and receive a negative result and they must attach their official work letter and personal identification to complete the application process.
“SDMC has investigated Sng’s application and found that he applied a total of five times, of which his applications were rejected three times due to insufficient documentation.
“While another time, the system had approved his application with the condition that he undergo quarantine and not for an exemption as his application was not furnished with a RT-PCR test result.
“Sng only enclosed and submitted his RT-PCR test and completed the required documentation on his fifth attempt. By following the procedure, as his fellow colleagues had done, he was granted an approval to enter Sarawak with exemption from quarantine,” Masing said.
Masing said that it was important for everyone to check their application and the comments made by the administrator on their application status and to contact SDMC hotline or the Sarawak disaster information Facebook page to inquire about their application.
Sng on his Facebook page had expressed disappointment with the SDMC for rejecting his application to return to Sarawak thrice, after attending the current Parliament session in Kuala Lumpur. – Bernama, December 5, 2020.
