Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah
KUCHING: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development is in talk with Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to set up ‘pasar tani’ (farmers’ markets) across the state to reduce overcrowding at wet markets during the movement control order (MCO), says its minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
“Maybe in the next one to two days, my ministry and Fama will work out a plan to open ‘pasar tani’ throughout Sarawak for farmers to sell their produce and where the people can purchase fresh fish, vegetables and so on,” he told a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
While he did not elaborate, he mentioned that these farmers’ markets would have to comply with good hygiene and social distancing rule as laid out by the health department.
On another matter, Uggah clarified that essential service workers such as Sesco technicians are allowed to carry out their duties during the 7pm to 7am period.
“I was notified that they were not supposed to do anything in some divisions after 7pm. Please, if there is a power failure in certain areas after the restricted time, the technicians can carry out repair works to restore power supply.
“We have decided that repairing of electricity infrastructure is considered as essential service,” he said.
Uggah, who is also chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee, earlier touched on the inter-district travel restriction whereby the people’s movement is only allowed for those performing official tasks, essential services workers, death of a close family member, family member with severe illness, and health check requirements.
He said exemptions would be given to certain people after obtaining permits from the respective district or resident offices.
“For farmers who are based in Kuching but their farms are located in Bau, for instance, we have asked them to get the permit to enable them to travel inter district.”