KUCHING: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has once again appealed to all business owners not to bring in foreign workers through illegal or unofficial means.
“Doubly so when you are not sure of the backgrounds and origins of the workers that you intend to bring in via jalan tikus (illegal routes). This is one of the gaps in the outbreaks of Covid-19 that we must shut down,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 17).
Pointing out that this was not the first time he had given such advice, he said the time for mere advice from here onwards was over and it was now time for much stricter action for the good of the people.
“Most of these foreign workers are brought in on lorries to work in various oil palm estates. Do the bosses and employers in the logistics field know this? Or do they care to report?” he questioned.
He said if these employers were doing this intentionally and they were discovered, they must then face the fullest legal repercussions for their actions.
“Employers are beholden to know whether their employees are involved in shady business or conducting illegal activities, particularly those that benefit their business,” he said.
He stressed on the need for all employers to strictly comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs), urging them not to ignore the health and safety of the public for the sake of protecting their own interests.
Tiong, who is also Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president, said there had been as many as four logistics companies in Bintulu with more than a dozen drivers who had caught Covid-19.
“The authorities have to actively and closely monitor whether the relevant sectors have properly implemented the SOPs, including conducting reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) tests once a week.
“Are the industry players willing to give a higher level of cooperation and practise self-discipline to implement the SOPs so that we do not waste the previous efforts of containing the pandemic? Otherwise, they cannot blame the authorities for enforcing even stricter SOPs to counteract their recklessness,” he said.
He pointed out that Bintulu had previously succeeded in containing the number of daily confirmed cases to single digits, but now, unfortunately, the number of daily cases had rebounded to double digits.
He said these cases were contributed by outbreaks originating from the industry and transport sectors in Bintulu.
“I also understand that all sectors are facing labour shortage. We are actively communicating and discussing with the Sarawak government to find a better and more secure way of hiring labour,” he said.
Tiong welcomed any suggestions from relevant associations and employer groups.
“We need to solve this issue in a holistic manner, not in a rash manner that could ultimately endanger ourselves and everyone else,” he said.
