KOTA KINABALU – The federal territory of Labuan is now facing the Delta Covid-19 variant, a goods shortage and panic-buying, with eight localities to go under a two-week total lockdown starting tomorrow.
Since the government announcement yesterday, residents have stood in long lines only to be met with empty shelves at supermarkets and grocery stores.
“The situation is getting serious. People should avoid going to crowded places,” Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli told The Vibes.
“But after the lockdown was announced, it was no longer easy to ensure crowd control.
“I was hoping that the authorities would announce the lockdown in a way that would not trigger panic-buying.”
He said photos of empty shelves have gone viral, and noted that people have queued for hours to buy supplies over the last few days.
“This is worrying. I really hope the government and its agencies can plan ahead before such lockdowns are imposed.
“We want a lockdown that helps, not one that makes the situation worse.”
The lockdown will be in effect until June 28, involving Kg Sg Keling, Kg Bukit Kalam, the Kg Patau-Patau water village, Taman Perumahan Mutiara Sg Bedaun, Kg Layang-Layangan, Kg Durian Tg and Kg Tg Aru.
Deliveries of goods reduced
As stocks run low, The Vibes has learnt that goods transporters have reduced the frequency of deliveries to the island, located off southwest Sabah.
Labuan relies on Sabah for much of its goods, and travel to and from the two places requires a ferry service.
The authorities have tightened security at the island’s borders, and only individuals with a negative PCR-RT test are allowed in.
Rozman said the cost of transporting goods has increased tremendously, and operators are forced to reduce the number of trips made to Labuan.
“I just had a meeting with some transporters, and they told me that they are now forced to cut down on trips.”
Swab tests in Labuan cost between RM150 and RM130 for RTK-Antigen, and from RM480 to RM500 for PCR-RT, he said.
In comparison, an RTK-Antigen test costs RM70 to RM100, while it is between RM300 and RM350 for PCR-RT, in Sabah.
“People now have to go to private medical facilities, as public ones are already overwhelmed with mass testing,” said the lawmaker.
“This is very expensive. Imagine a company having to spend around RM1,000 on testing for each trip it makes – one for the driver and a helper.”
The Labuan Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry did not provide comments when asked.
Calls to speed up vaccination
The Covid-19 vaccination and registration rates in Labuan, which has a population of 100,000, stand close to 20% and 60%, respectively.
“I really hope the government will speed up vaccinations in Labuan. We have demanded that more vaccines be sent to us quickly,” said Rozman.
He said a batch of some 30,000 doses is due to arrive this week.
“But to inoculate 80% of the population to achieve herd immunity, health authorities need to administer the jabs to more than 65,000 people. This means we need about 130,000 doses.”
At present, 17,935 residents have received their first dose, while 13,295 have gotten the second.
“I am trying to push for registration, and if the situation gets worse, we might have no choice but to adopt a door-to-door approach,” said Rozman.
“But I am a layman. I have full confidence in health authorities doing their job, as they are the ones with the technical knowledge.”
Despite him being in the opposition, he said, health officials have given him informal briefings on the coronavirus situation on the island.
He said he has been roped into national Covid-19 briefings, and that the federal government may want him to play a more active role in the vaccination drive.
Variant of concern
With Labuan hit by the Delta variant, residents are frustrated that the index case was able to slip through screening.
Health Ministry data indicates that the spike on the island has hit 2,400 cases per one million population since strict movement controls began.
“We are so frustrated,” said Rozman, adding that the index case entered Labuan and infected locals prior to Malaysia imposing a travel ban on arrivals from India.
“I believe they (index case) travelled to Kuala Lumpur, and before the entry restriction was implemented, they came to Labuan.
“I think this may be a result of the authorities’ indecisiveness and slowness in enforcing the entry restriction,” he said, in reference to frequent changes to the standard operating procedures.
This is why the virus is spreading quickly and claiming many lives, including the young, he said.
Labuan has seen a surge in cases over the past week, with its death toll at 66. – The Vibes, June 14, 2021
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