KUCHING: A posting went viral on social media showing residents from Pakan standing under the sun in a long queue at the Pakan police station, waiting to get permits to travel to Sarikei.
It is learnt that the residents wanted to go to Sarikei to withdraw money because there is no automated teller machine (ATM) or fuel station in Pakan.
When contacted, Sarawak deputy police commissioner Datuk Dev Kumar M M Sree confirmed the posting’s legitimacy and said the situation was under control.
“Some 197 people went to the Pakan police station this morning to apply for permission to go and withdraw money in Sarikei. The nearest bank is in Sarikei,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said since this was inter-district travel, the residents adhered to the movement control order (MCO) and had gone to get permission from the police.
“The crowd was cleared in the afternoon. Social distancing was adhered to,” he said.
When asked whether the police would limit the number of people should a similar situation occur, DCP Dev Kumar said the public’s movement would not be restricted if they needed to go out and buy food, daily necessities, medicine and going to the bank.
“However, anyone going out must not be accompanied by any other person, unless it is reasonably necessary for him (or her) to be accompanied by another person,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sibu saw a number of crowds lining up outside several banks yesterday.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting, in his Facebook posting, lamented that Sibu’s banking areas looked as if the MCO had ended.
“Car parks are full, particularly in front of banks like from Kampung Datu to Tunku Osman. Crowded five-foot way of at least 50 persons with little or no social distancing,” he said, adding that RHB and Public Banks were still full of people at around 1pm.
He said if this was the trend, he foresaw more Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks.
“There are many who are positive but asymptomatic moving around. Very few (have) done any checking.
“I again urge the public to take care and stay away from crowded places like in the photos,” he said.
Crowds at several banks in Sibu. (Photo taken from Clarence Ting’s Facebook) 
