Wong Ching Yong
SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong hails the 16 Special Incentive Packages (SIP) announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg as “The Peoples’ Packages”.
He said the SIP took into consideration the recent viral appeal on social media that front liners such as doctors, nurses and other staff of hospitals should be given more care and concern.
“Out of the said 16 SIP, two are related to the front liners combating Covid-19. These front liners will get a special allowance ranging from RM200 to RM300 per month depending on their roles and positions,” he said when contacted after the announcement was made yesterday afternoon.
Wong, who is an accountant by profession, said the most important part of the SIP is the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).
He understood that parents of these front liners like doctors and nurses are worried sick about the insufficient provision of PPE which could easily expose them to Covid-19.
It is the hope, he pointed out, of these front liners and their loved ones that the best PPE be provided to them because they are risking their own lives to save the lives of others.
Saying that two million face masks will be given free to Sarawakians, he noted that the present population of Sarawak is 2.69 million.
“Assuming one million Sarawakians need face masks. It means only two face masks for one Sarawakian.
“Many Sarawakians hope that more face masks will be given free. A pharmacist said that before the outbreak of Covid-19, a box of 50-piece face masks was sold for RM25, that is, 20 sen per face mask.
“If the Sarawak government finds it a heavy financial burden to give free face masks to Sarawakians, perhaps it could consider selling face masks at a subsidised price.
“Again, anything given free needs very stringent administration to ensure that only true blood Sarawakians enjoy this benefit,” he added.
Overall, Wong was satisfied that the 16 SIP had taken into consideration all facets of industries most likely to be adversely affected by the outbreak of Covid-19 such as hotels, restaurants, households and the B40 group numbering about 430,000.
He also said doctors in Sibu General Hospital had informed SUPP Dudong branch that medical facilities to treat Covid-19 in the hospital needed to be urgently upgraded.
He added that right now the Sibu General Hospital needs the following medical equipment on an urgent basis – six syringe pumps at RM5,000 each, six infusion pumps at RM3,300 each, six bedside monitors at RM4,000 each, five adult laryngoscope at RM2,000 each, five adult ambubags at RM700 each, 10 stethoscopes at RM150 each and PCR analyser costing RM150,000, totalling about RM230,000.
He also said at the moment, only Sarawak General Hospital and Unimas Hospital have the laboratories to test Covid-19.
“It is hereby suggested that all the gazetted hospitals in Sarawak set up the testing laboratories particularly in view of the fact that Sarawak now has recorded five deaths from Covid-19. The construction of one testing laboratory is estimated to be RM2 million.
“SUPP Dudong branch hereby proposes that all the gazetted hospitals in Sarawak to treat Covid-19 be given additional RM2 million each to purchase the enquired medical equipment,” he added.