SRDC closes Sibu Jaya Pasar Tamu for the duration of the MCO

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SRDC enforcement personnel sealing off the Sibu Jaya Tamu Market.

SIBU: Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) today imposed the closure order on the Sibu Jaya Pasar Tamu in view of the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) situation and the Movement Control Order (MCO).

SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said that they did so after instruction came from the Local Government and Housing Ministry to prevent crowds from coming into close contact with each other.

“The order came from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to prevent crowds from having any close contact,” he said.

The council’s secretary Justani Joni together with the Enforcement Unit head David Houng and Health and Town Service Division officer Mathiew Paran went to seal off the area today and a notice was enclosed to remind the public that the area was off-limits.

SRDC was also assisted by Sibu Jaya police headed by ASP Johnson Nuing (during the operation), he added.

“Up to this morning, members of the public including coffee shop operators abided by the MCO. We hope members of the public continue to stay away from the public areas to cut off the chain of Covid-19 infection,” Sempurai advised.

Recently, Local Government and Housing Ministry had ordered all food premises and stalls to close by 8pm daily during the MCO period.

A circular issued by permanent secretary to the ministry Antonio Kahti Galis to all local authorities said that the regulation came into effect last night.

“In line with the declaration of the MCO from March 18 to 31 by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, all shops selling food and beverages, kopitiam (coffee shops) and food courts are instructed to close at 8pm every day until further notice,” it said, instructing all local authorities to ensure compliance.