Mandatory quarantine in Sarawak

Those from abroad must fulfil 14-day stay at centres while rules for M’sians relaxed

Sarawak continues to impose mandatory quarantine on individuals entering the state from overseas, while relaxing the rule for Malaysians coming from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the cost of quarantine for Sarawakians returning to the state from abroad will be taken care of by the state.

“Non-Sarawakians will bear the full cost themselves,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Those entering the state, including Sarawakians, will be quarantined for 14 days at designated centres and will undergo a swab test for Covid-19 on Day 2 and Day 10.

Ismail Sabri said the state has decided that while Malaysians from the peninsula, Sabah and Labuan no longer need to be quarantined, they will have to fill in a health declaration form online prior to entering the state.

The e-health declaration form can be obtained at https://sarawakdisastermc.com/.

The minister also reported that police had issued compound on 13 individuals who did not have face masks on while in crowded public places.

They were among 39 people caught on Tuesday for violating the standard operating procedures under the recovery movement control order.

Other violations include operating beyond permitted hours, employing illegal immigrants, failure to show records of customers and taking part in activities where social distancing cannot be observed.

The task force monitoring compliance carried out checks on 62,306 premises, including transport terminals, factories, government offices and banks.

Ismail Sabri also reported that between May 1 and Sept 1, authorities arrested 4,620 illegal immigrants during Ops Benteng.

Also arrested were 698 tekong (skippers involved in human trafficking) and 247 smugglers, while 177 boats and 475 vehicles used to ferry the undocumented foreigners were seized.

“The authorities will continue to act against anyone who attempts to enter the country illegally as well as against those who assist the illegal immigrants,” said the minister.

On mandatory quarantine, a total of 21,217 individuals returned to Malaysia between July 24 and Sept 1, and were placed at designated stations.

There are currently 8,801 people undergoing quarantine.