WHILE the nation readies for the Covid-19 lockdown to start on June 1, Sarawak has something else up its sleeve, much to the dismay of netizens and opposition parties.
The state’s ministers have decided to impose their own version of a lockdown – termed the “Sarawak-style movement control order (MCO)” – for the next two weeks.
This allows many in the industrial and economic sectors, like oil palm plantations, construction projects and factories, to continue operating, but with reduced manpower.
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen did not mince his words when he asked why the state’s leaders want to be different all the time.
“Why is the Sarawak government not following the nationwide lockdown?
“State government leaders are insisting on the MCO, but the MCO SOPs they drew up have a lot of weaknesses.”
Chong, who is also state DAP chief, said the SOPs under the Sarawak-style MCO lack bite, and that while industrial and economic activities are allowed to continue, small-scale traders are barred from operating – calling into question the order’s efficacy in curbing Covid-19.
His sentiments are shared by others who, like me, think there are many weaknesses that need to be addressed immediately by the state cabinet and Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (DMC) chairman.
Many “holes” are in need of plugging if Sarawak wants to contain the coronavirus, which has claimed almost 300 lives and infected some 46,000 statewide.
Lackadaisical attitude towards SOPs
Despite the imposition of curfew-like movement controls from 10pm to 5am since yesterday, people in the state continue to travel via rural roads and rivers.
And if the recent Gawai Dayak rush does not demonstrate how lackadaisical Sarawakians are towards the SOPs, I don’t know what will!
But does one blame the people for having such an attitude when some of the SOPs are not properly spelled out?
Take for example the 10pm-to-5am curfew, from which only employees in essential sectors and those with urgent matters to attend to are exempt.
The curfew does not specify terms for those living in longhouses and kampung, places that are major contributors to the state’s Covid-19 crisis.
And come Gawai on June 1, there will be dancing, singing, feasting and drinking all day and night, scenes that I have personally witnessed during my visits to longhouses.
What happens to SOP compliance then?
State leaders have said they will ensure those celebrating Gawai in longhouses are monitored closely by village chiefs and village committees.
This is really a weak point, because those celebrating include longhouse chiefs and village security committee members!
Recommendations for a better Sarawak-style MCO
Enforcement is ongoing to ensure children below 12 are not brought to public places and crowded areas like shopping complexes, with young kids allowed out only for medical reasons.
This ruling by the state DMC, however, stops short of being an outright ban on children at shopping malls.
Who, then, will ensure that these places forbid children from entering, since there are no specific directives given?
Hence, the state cabinet and Uggah must look into the following to ensure a more effective Sarawak-style MCO:
1. Stop the recruitment of foreign workers. Sarawak is in the midst of taking in up to 27,000 such workers for its palm oil and construction sectors. This intake must be halted at once to curb the entry of new Covid-19 variants into the country.
2. Stop all flights, whether international or domestic, from entering Sarawak. These flights are constantly bringing in passengers, with many later found to be positive for Covid-19.
3. Stop foreign oil and gas workers from entering the state. I have learnt that in Miri, a handful of coronavirus cases comprise employees in the sector who were in contact with their colleagues of different nationalities.
4. Investigate private companies in Sarawak that are forcing employees to work full-time and refusing to reduce their workforce size. I have heard of certain firms forcing staff to continue working at the office despite Covid-19 being detected at the workplace. The managers of these companies must be severely penalised for endangering workers’ safety.
Sarawak leaders need to get their act together. There is no more room for errors and blunders if they want to win the war against Covid-19. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021
Stephen Then is a reporter at The Vibes. He is based in Miri
