Lau Pang Heng
KUCHING (June 11): Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Kota Sentosa representative Datuk Dr Lau Pang Heng is urging the authorities in Bintulu to waive the seven-day validity period for Covid-19 rT-PCR test for transporters.
He also urged the government to expedite the Covid-19 vaccination for these transporters and those involved in cross-district goods deliveries.
“Vaccination is a way to enable our body to develop an immune system to fight Covid-19 virus. We hope that once the lorry drivers and attendants are vaccinated against coronavirus, the authority may waive the seven-day rT-PCR test result requirement,” he said in a statement today.
He said that at least eight transporter companies have called him complaining that enforcement officers at the Bintulu checkpoint require all lorry drivers and attendants passing through to have their Covid-19 rT-PCR test result negative for the virus once every seven days, but the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) standard operating procedures (SOP) only requires them to have the test every 14 days.
Thus, these businessmen were confused about the conflicting SOP, he added.
The transporter companies told him that the seven-day rT-PCR test result validity period is almost impossible for those passing by Bintulu trunk road during their cross district deliveries because when tests are done in Limbang, Lawas or Sibu, by the time they got the rT-PCR test result, the seven-day validity period has effectively expired, and the delivery of goods in between the districts would take at least seven days.
After that, during their return trip, the rT-PCR test result is no more valid because of the seven-day requirement.
Many of the lorry drivers and attendants are facing this hurdle in addition to the economic slump amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, said Lau.