Sarawak Disaster Management Committee deputy chairman Datu Ik Pahon Joyik (second right), Hii (right) and personnel from other agencies inspecting a venue for an industrial PPV.
KUCHING (June 15): The Sarawak Manufacturers’ Association has set up a Covid-19 vaccination committee consisting of 65 member companies to help coordinate the setting up of vaccination centres (PPV) for workers in the industrial sector in the state.
The association secretary-general Stephen Hii said in a statement that there were about 5,600 employees under the 65 companies, and the vaccination committee supports the state government’s efforts in overcoming the pandemic.
“Covid-19 cases among industrial workers are rising since the Hari Raya festive holiday. Both employers and employees are experiencing panic and loss of income.
“Thus, the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) is necessary, and accelerating the vaccination process is a priority,” he said.
In view of the worrying Covid-19 trend in the state, Hii, who leads the committee, said it was very much appreciated that the state government via the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development had rolled out the industrial PPV programme.
He remarked that the pandemic had greatly affected the industrial sector in the state, with many small and medium manufacturers having to cease operations or reduce their production to the minimum due to the detection of positive cases within their workforce.
“With the assistance from the ministry and State Disaster Management Committee, we foresee the state will soon be able to turn from red zone to yellow zone,” said Hii.