More clusters detected in Sarawak

2 June 2021

KUCHING: Six new Covid-19 clusters were declared by the State Health Department today (June 2). In its daily statement, the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said half of the new clusters were detected in Miri and one each in Mukah, Tatau and Selangau. The first cluster, known as the Jalan Brooke Cluster, is a workplace cluster detected among public market traders in Jalan Brooke, Miri. “The index case is a 65-year-old local man who was detected through pre-admission screening at Miri Hospital and was confirmed positive on May 18. “A total of 116 individuals was screened in which 15 cases were detected positive for Covid-19, including the index case,” it said. The Jee Cattleya Cluster is a workplace cluster detected among employees of a furniture store located at Jalan Jee Foh 8 and a rice warehouse at Jalan Cattleya 2B, Miri. SDMC said the index is a 35-year-old local man, detected through pre-travel screening at a private hospital in Miri on May 5. “A total of 145 individuals was screened. where 23 cases were detected positive for Covid-19, including the index case,” it said. The Jalan Pinang Riam Cluster, on the other hand, is a workplace case involving employees of a fast food restaurant premises in Jalan Miri-Bintulu, Riam, Miri. SDMC said 129 individuals were screened which yielded 15 positive cases. Meanwhile, the Bunut Cluster in Mukah is a community cluster detected in Kampung Bunut spread through social movements and visiting activities during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. “To date, this cluster involved several families in Kampung Bunut, Taman Crystal and Kampung Sungai Alo in Mukah. A total of 166 individuals were screened where 30 cases were detected positive, including the index case,” it added. It is learnt that the Penyarai River Cluster is also a community cluster detected at a longhouse in the Sungai Penyarai area of Ulu Kakus, Tatau. “Of the 109 individuals screened, 27 positive cases were detected including the index case.” The sixth cluster, known as the Nanga Meruan Cluster, is a community cluster detected at a longhouse in the Nanga Meruan area of Dijih, Selangau which involved a funeral ceremony that took place on May 15 and 16. “A total of 115 individuals was screened where 34 cases were detected positive, including the index case,” said SDMC. The committee assured that all positive cases were referred to local hospitals and low-risk treatment centres (PKRCs) for further treatments. On a positive note, the Health Department also declared the end of five clusters in the state, namely the Tarat Tani Cluster in Serian, Tabuan Jaya Cluster in Kuching, Sileng Dayak Cluster in Lundu, Sungai Mas Cluster in Sebauh and Taman Pelita Cluster in Kuching after no new cases were reported within the past 28 days.

Cops erect 14 roadblocks in Kuching

2 June 2021

KUCHING: Police here have set up 14 roadblocks throughout the movement control order (MCO). District police chief Asst Comm Ashmon Bajah said the roadblocks will focus on inter-district areas and strategic urban routes around Kuching city. A total of 791 officers including the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), State Enforcement and Security Unit (UKPN) and local authorities will be enforcing the MCO standard operating procedures (SOPs). “Eight roadblocks have already been set up previously and an additional six more roadblocks were also added to the total. “Among the six additional roadblocks are two mobile roadblocks that have also been set up specifically to control movement in urban areas,” he said when met at a roadblock here on Tuesday night (June 1). The six additional roadblocks will be set up in strategic locations according to the current needs. “Within 24 hours on May 31, a total of six individuals were compounded. Among the offences were exceeding the total number of individuals allowed in the vehicle, attempts to cross districts and public gatherings,” said Ashmon. He said the Kuching District police headquarters’ special Covid-19 monitoring team will also step up monitoring in industrial areas based on public tipoffs. Ashmon warned that police will not compromise in issuing compounds against individuals or premises found guilty of SOP noncompliance.

Stopped right on their tracks!

2 June 2021

MUKAH: Seven individuals were caught red-handed for standard operating procedure (SOP) violation when attempting to travel across districts, here yesterday (June 1). Mukah police chief Deputy Superintendent Muhamad Rizal Alias said today (June 2) the compound was issued between 7am and 3pm at a roadblock in Kampung Jebungan, here. He said the offenders were compounded for having more than the designated amount of passengers in a vehicle as well as failure to provide inter-district travel permits issued by the police. “Six compounds were issued for carrying passengers in excess of the set limit of two persons in a vehicle. “One compound was issued for failure to provide travel permits from the police for inter-district movement,” he said, adding that all offences were under Regulation 17 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas)(No.2) 2021. Muhamad Rizal said stricter enforcement will be implemented, including issuing compounds to individuals flouting the SOPs throughout the duration of the movement control order (MCO). He also reminded the people to first obtain their inter-district travel permit from the police before attempting to cross districts.

Cops stop rooster fight; two women among 5 held

2 June 2021

JULAU: A cockfighting session on the first day of Gawai Dayak celebration here came to a premature end after five locals, including two women, engrossed in the prohibited activity were rounded by police. The culprits were caught in an open area near Darau, Pakan. District police chief Deputy Supt Andam Sulin Brayun said a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and several members of relevant departments raided the spot at around 3.30pm yesterday (June 1). The suspects were aged between 34 and 69 years. Andam said four live cockerels, three dead ones, a scale, a box riddled with written numbers and a canvas were seized “All the suspects were compounded under Regulation 17 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (No.2) 2021,” he said today (June 2). He said the suspects are being investigated under Section 3 (1) of the Animal Cruelty Ordinance 1963.

Sarawak streamlines MCO to June 14

1 June 2021

KUCHING: The movement control order (MCO) in the state will be extended until June 14, said the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC). The decision was announced by the committee in its daily Covid-19 update yesterday (May 31). “Today (May 31), SDMC has met and decided to coordinate the implementation date

State records 654 new positive cases

31 May 2021

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 654 new Covid-19 cases on Monday (May 31), bringing the state’s tally to 47,329 since the first case was detected on March 13 last year. State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said 405 or 61.93 percent of the new cases were detected in Kuching, Sibu and Miri. “Kuching

State records two new clusters

31 May 2021

KUCHING: The State Health Department has declared two new Covid-19 clusters in Sarawak. Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in announcing this yesterday, said the Gerigat Cluster in Kabong and the Sungai Parik Cluster in Sri Aman are both community clusters. The Gerigat cluster was detected at a village in Gerigat,

Traders, shop owners adhere fully to SOPs

30 May 2021

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Traders and shop owners here have shown full compliance to the set standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the movement control order (MCO), said Datuk Peter Minos. The Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman said although some needed necessary persuasion to close down operations, none had refused as soon as

Attempts to smuggle foiled

28 May 2021

KUCHING: The Sarawak Brigade’s General Operations Force (GOF) managed to thwart the attempts of three local tekong (trafficking agents) to smuggle in five illegal immigrants into the state. GOF Sarawak commander SAC Mancha Ata said the agents were arrested in two separate raids during Ops Benteng on May 23 and

Police to step up enforcement of MCO

27 May 2021

KUCHING: Sarawak police will step up its compliance monitoring and enforcement of the standard operating procedure (SOP) throughout the imposition of the statewide movement control order (MCO) from May 29 until June 11. Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said enforcement and roadblock operations would be conducted similar to that of

Author: Clement Erik Wong