MIRI: The Sarawak government has imposed restrictions on the entry of China nationals into the state with immediate effect yesterday.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the move was to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak into Sarawak.
“The decision was made after taking into account the recent development of the outbreak in other parts of China.”
“As a precautionary measure, we will not allow the entry of China nationals into Sarawak at this time as the virus has now spread elsewhere in China,” said Abang Johari.
He said this when met by reporters after attending the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Chinese New Year open house at the Bintulu Civic Centre yesterday.
Also present were Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib.
However, the chief minister said the restrictions will be lifted once the situation has been stabilised.
Abang Johari said the decision was made after talking with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is also the State Disaster Management Committee chairman yesterday.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said that Sarawakians who are in China would be brought home.
“We are still monitoring them there and are working to bring them back.
“They will be located in a quarantine zone to be handled by the Health Department and we have identified a building to be used as a quarantine area,” he said.
However, he did not divulge the number Sarawakians in China.
