Stay true in fight against Covid-19
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday reminded Sarawakians that they need to continue with their efforts to keep the coronavirus infection rate down again.
He said it was his hope that the coming of the Covid-19 vaccine will mean the situation can be better towards the second half of this year.
Meanwhile, we just need to abide by the SOP (standard operating procedures) and cooperate with our frontliners and enforcement authorities so that the current three-digit daily infections can be brought down to just single digit, or even, God-willing, zero infection,¡¨ he said in his 2021 Chinese New Year message.
Abang Johari also said Sarawakians can never thank the frontliners enough for the tremendous work pressure that they have to bear with in order to keep everyone else free from infection.
He pointed out that the frontliners have sacrificed their own personal comfort and have been kept away from their families, with some even ending up infected with the virus in the course of discharging their duties.
We pray for them that the Almighty will always protect them and their families, he said.
He also called on Sarawakians to continue working towards strengthening unity although coming from various religions, races and cultures.
Despite not being able to visit each other’s open houses this Chinese New Year due to the SOP for the festive season, Abang Johari stressed this does not prevent them from continuing to strengthen the bond of friendship through the spirit of mutual respect for each other.
I wish all our Chinese friends a happy Lunar New Year and may the Year of the Ox bring us prosperity, unity, good health and deliverance from the coronavirus pandemic to our beloved Land of the Hornbills,¡¨ he said.
The chief minister also said Sarawak is lucky as the state has the power to make its own decisions to suit the local conditions and not necessarily having to follow the decisions of the federal government every time which may not be in its best interest.
This includes Sarawak being able to decide for itself not to impose the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), except in Sibu, Kapit and Song, to ensure that life in other parts of the state can go on and businesses can continue to operate in order to keep people in employment, he said.
We cannot continue to close our economy but somehow, we have to find ways to get it going.
The state government is implementing this policy as we have the autonomous right as enshrined in the Ninth Schedule, Clause (7) of the Concurrent List. That is the right we have to protect in future.¡¨
On another matter, Abang Johari called on Sarawakians to reflect on how the Chinese community places so much emphasis on education, pointing out that wherever there is a Chinese settlement, there will also be a school nearby for the children.