Sabahans take Covid-19 fight to social media

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Notice being put up not to allow outsiders to enter their kampung.

KOTA KINABALU: When it comes to facing a crisis, Sabahans have always displayed the spirit of solidarity.

This strong sense of cohesiveness could be seen during the Lahad Datu invasion in 2013, Ranau earthquake in 2015 and now we’re seeing Sabahans taking it to social media by spreading message in short videos urging people to stay at home to fight the spread of Covid-19 – in various local dialects.

The initiative of making videos in various Sabahan languages was mooted by the founder of Borneo Startups Community (Boston) Viviantie Sarjuni who shared the idea in WhatsApp groups, which received positive response from many, especially those working with the community in the interior.

“My worry is when Covid-19 hits poor areas like the kampung and squatter colonies.

“Since most of the information about this pandemic is in English and Malay, we may forget those in the interior who can read. We must reach them,” said Viviantie who is also GM of Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Hub.

After three days of the Movement Control Order (RMO), almost 50 videos were shared online, voluntarily, mostly through Facebook and WhatsApp in Tombonuo, Kadazan, Murut, Tatana, Samah, Suluk, Dusun, Brunei, Bisaya, Tidong, Irranun, Sungai and many more.

Yang Serimah, a local influencer, joins the initiative to urge people to stay at home.

Apart from videos, netizens are consistently posting their status on Facebook urging their friends to obey the MCO to ensure number of positive cases in Sabah will drop.

Although some are still spreading unverified information with an intention to ask whether it is true, there seems to be fewer yesterday compared to the first and second day where whatsApp groups and Facebook status were flooded with information about the situation.

Meanwhile, with the awareness starting to reach out the interior, there are a number of villagers starting to limit their contact with outsiders.

For example, in Kota Belud, one kampung prohibited tourists, buyers and sellers to enter their village.
In Pitas, villagers of Kampung Kandang came into an agreement not to allow outsiders to enter their village.

Meanwhile, if any of the villagers arrived from the city he or she must go through an interview with the village heads.

Pitas assemblyman Datuk Bolkiah Ismail said he received many requests from community leaders in the constituency to put up blockroads going into their villages.

However, he said the decision on the matter is under the jurisdiction of the security forces.