KUCHING: The state government’s decision in taking precautionary measures to slowly open up industries and businesses is in line with the latest development of the Covid-19 situation in the state.
Assistant Minister International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais also said it is in line with the federal government’s decision to ease the impact of the movement control order (MCO).
“The federal government has started opening almost all business sectors beginning last week, but Sarawak has taken careful steps and considered the current situation going on in the state.
“The most important factor is the health and safety of the people, whereby people can start moving around freely,” he said in a press statement, yesterday.
Naroden explained that through netizens’ comments on social media, the state government through the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has taken steps to carefully implement the relaxation of MCO requirements.
“This does not mean that we do not agree with the directive of the federal government, as Sarawak is almost as big as West Malaysia.
“Although the current Covid-19 conversion is beginning to show a downward trend, there are still areas categorised as red and yellow zones” he added.
Naroden highlighted that starting May 12, most of the industries and businesses in the green zone will be fully operational and workers will return to work, unless they are still in the red and yellow zones.
“This means that the state’s economy sectors will start to function and all the business chains can start operating.
“It may not be as active as before, but at least this important sector will gradually recover,” he said.
However, Naroden also reminded Sarawakians to always be vigilant by practising social distancing, frequently washing their hands, using hand sanitisers and face masks, and conducting body temperature checks as this would be the new ‘normal’.
“No matter what we do today and tomorrow, this pandemic has taught us to take better care of our health.
“If not handled properly, this will surely have a devastating effect on not only the economic sector, but many other sectors both in our country and state,” he said.
