KUCHING: A recent Covid-19 detection operation found a group of 94 Indonesian illegal immigrants positive for the virus and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has expressed concern.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman said the immigrants were from two oil palm plantations near Sibu.

He said about half of the illegal immigrants were not vaccinated, adding that based on a report he had received, they had either no valid travelling pass or that their pass had expired.

The group comprised 47 men, 26 women, 11 male and 10 female children.

They are now kept at the Covid-19 Quarantine and Low Risk Treatment Centres (PKRCs) at Sibu Hospital and Kolej Laila Taib.

“This is a matter of grave concern for all of us and the state. Those who are yet to be vaccinated will pose big threats, especially now that the Delta variant is the dominant variant in the state,” Uggah said today (Aug 28).

He said he had reasons to believe that the cases were not isolated.

“Recently, I visited a construction site in Kuching where I was told there were two workers from outside whose travelling documents had expired. They too have not been vaccinated.

“I strongly urge all the relevant authorities to take the necessary action to control their presence,” he said.

The deputy chief minister urged the relevant authorities to beef up surveillance and operations at the border.

“We are still getting people from across the border sneaking in.

“In addition, there must be constant monitoring and checks of  plantations and construction sites to flush out these illegal immigrants,” he said.

Uggah warned that their continued presence could pose a grave danger and threat to the health of Sarawakians, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.