Sandakan MP slams govt's move to set up transit centre in residential area

SANDAKAN – Sandakan MP Vivian Wong has criticised the government for setting up a quarantine transit centre for illegal immigrants too close to a residential area in Taman Sibuga Mile 5, that she says is causing unnecessary panic and fear among local residents. 

Wong was responding to Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement earlier that the government will be setting up a quarantine transit centre for illegal immigrants in Sabah to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.  

Dewan Sibuga, located in Mile 5 was one of the four venues mentioned by the Senior Minister as quarantine transit centres. The other three were Dewan Masyarakat Manggatal, Dewan Masyarakat Pekan Kinarut, and Dewan Sri Gum-Gum Batu 16 Sandakan. 

“I am not against the government’s effort in combating the Covid-19 crisis in the state. However, when setting up a quarantine transit centre for illegal immigrants, it is crucial that the centre is not located within an existing housing estate,” said Vivian. 

“Dewan Sibuga is the badminton hall located right behind Pasar Taman Sibuga, and it is in the middle of Taman Sibuga, one of the most densely populated housing estates in Sandakan. We have tried to contact the authorities for clarification, but we have not received any details so far,” Wong said in a statement here today.  

She said she has been receiving numerous calls from concerned residents of Taman Sibuga for the past few days regarding the centre.  

“The centre is right at their doorsteps. While their anxiety is understandable amid the current pandemic, we are also baffled by the choice of setting up such a centre in the middle of a densely populated housing estate.  

“Taman Sibuga is an old housing estate where the majority of the residents are senior citizens, who are classified as high-risk for Covid-19 infection.  Recent reports of Covid-19 positive detainees escaping quarantine centres in other parts of Sabah have served to add to the fear and concern of the residents in Taman Sibuga. 

“I believe that there are other options available to the authorities in setting up a quarantine transit centre in Sandakan. Therefore, I strongly urge the government to provide further information on the locality of this centre and reconsider its decision to set up the centre in the middle of Taman Sibuga,” she added. –The Vibes, October 13, 2020