SUPP Dudong calls for entry ban on Peninsular Malaysians

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SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong has called for the Sarawak government to impose a 30-day entry ban on Peninsular Malaysians coming to Sarawak.

SUPP Dudong secretary Dr Wong Chya Wei said such move was necessary to contain the Covid-19 spread.

He said Sarawakians returning to Sarawak must undergo a

14-day supervised quarantine and be subject to random testing.

“The Covid-19 situation now has entered another phase. It is serious that we take urgent and aggressive measures to contain the spread,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Wong said as of 10pm on Friday, Malaysia had 197 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

“We expect this figure to continue rising, especially after it was disclosed that there were 14,500 Malaysians who attended a missionary convention at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling, (running) from Feb 27 to

March 1,” he said.

He said Sarawak might face what could potentially be its most serious pandemic.

“We are of the view that more stringent measures must be taken to ensure that Covid-19 will be better controlled and contained,” he said.

He called upon the Sarawak government to set up diagnostic test centres throughout the state.

“Without testing, we have no idea how extensive the infection is and who should be isolated.”

Taking the case of Wuhan, he said initially when there were 100 confirmed cases, there were in actual fact another 1,500 cases undetected at that point of time.

“We are of the view that all religious gatherings or worship must also be suspended for a period of 30 days,” he said.

Dr Wong suggested all schools be closed for 30 days as well.

“We are lucky that this coming week is the school holiday, but if the infection continues to worsen, the state government should extend the closure of schools,” he said.

Dr Wong said while the mortality rate of Covid-19 might not be as serious as SARS, he also stressed that ‘lives do matter’.

“Sarawak healthcare is very limited and it just cannot cope with the situation if an outbreak occurs here.

“Cut down on social gatherings and exercise good personal hygiene at all times, and keep washing your hands,” he advised.