Dennis (second left) distributing food to Penan children of Apau Nyaring after explaining the importance of the Movement Control Order.
MIRI: Malaysians who love and care for their health and safety and those of their family and community must fully support the decision made by the federal government to extend the Movement Control Order (MCO) to June 9.
Though the extension may affect the economy and their way of life, every Malaysian must do their part and follow strictly the directives to ensure the country is free of Covid-19 as soon as possible, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said.
“No government wants to make this decision, but it is a decision that a responsible government must take to protect her citizens,” said Dennis when contacted for comments on the extension of Conditional MCO as announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday.
“In fact, the phases of the MCO had brought Malaysians light at the end of the tunnel as we see the spread of Covid-19 is slowly put under control throughout our country, even though we are not yet out of the woods.
“Many countries in the world are still struggling to contain the pandemic because their government did not take strict action. Malaysia is now slowly returning to normal days albeit not 100 per cent yet,” he added.
Dennis therefore urged the people to understand why the government took the necessary move to extend the MCO.
“In particular, our rural folks of Baram must continue to take the MCO seriously to ensure Baram remain in the Green Zone until the pandemic is fully eliminated.
“I know many longhouses since the enforcement of the MCO have put up barriers to bar unknown persons from entering their villages and put in place a fine if one breaks the rules. I urge this to be continued until the end of the MCO,” said Dennis.
According to Dennis, the state government has come up with various ways to assist the people in this difficult time, including extending more financial aid to various levels of society, the latest being working with commercial banks to provide mobile banking in very rural areas to enable the rural folks withdraw government financial aid.
“No other state government in the country has done this except the Sarawak government led by Gabungan Parti Sarawak,” he pointed out.
With the extension of the MCO until early June this year, it would not be possible to celebrate Gawai and Hari Raya Aidilfitri as in the past, he added.
“I hope the people will accept this fact and fully understand why this action must be taken by the government,” he said.