THE Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (DMC) has decided that schools in the state’s Covid-19 red zones will stay closed until March 14.
The decision is no different than a slap to the Education Ministry. Basically, the state government is saying: “I disagree with you.”
According to the state DMC, the decision was made after discussions with the state Health Department and Education Ministry.
The ministry should, therefore, explain to teachers and parents in the peninsula and Sabah. If they think that schools are unsafe to be opened in Sarawak’s red zones, why is it safe for us in other parts of Malaysia?
Yesterday, Sarawak recorded 255 new coronavirus cases, Johor (314), Selangor (862), Perak (305) and Kuala Lumpur (117).
Active cases in Sarawak as of yesterday stood at 2,397, Johor (2,734), Selangor (3,002), Perak (3,626) and Kuala Lumpur (2,911).
Sarawak is under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), but Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang are under the MCO.
Aren’t these factors all indicators that the Covid-19 situation in Selangor, Johor, etc is also critical?
So, what are the factors used to decide that schools in Sarawak’s red zones will stay closed until March 14, while those in other states’ red zones can reopen?
What are the measuring indicators employed to arrive at a scientific and logical conclusion that it is indeed safe to reopen schools?
The ministry should convince all Malaysians that their decisions are made professionally, backed by proof and proper analysis, and that they have given equal considerations to children in red zones outside Sarawak. – The Vibes, February 28, 2021
Teo Nie Ching is Kulai MP and former deputy education minister
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