Sarawak to impose entry restrictions

KUCHING: Sarawak is banning the entry of non-Sarawakians from Sabah and Labuan from Sunday to Oct 18 as the state tightens entry requirements to stop imported Covid-19 cases.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this was part of the state’s strategy to protect Sarawak, particularly in view of the high number of cases in neighbouring Sabah.

“All other Malaysians and foreign citizens in Sabah and Labuan will not be allowed to enter Sarawak for 14 days starting Oct 4 until Oct 18,” he said at the state disaster management committee’s briefing here yesterday.

He said that Sarawakians in Sabah and Labuan would be allowed to return, but they must fill in the Enter Sarawak online application and e-health declaration form.

“They will be quarantined at designated quarantine centres for 14 days and be tested for Covid-19 on the second and 10th day.

“The cost of the quarantine and tests will be borne by the state government,” he said.

Meanwhile, those entering Sarawak from Peninsular Malaysia between Oct 4 and Oct 18 must apply for permission using the Enter Sarawak application and fill in the e-health declaration form.

“Non-Sarawakians will be quarantined for 14 days and tested on the second and 10th day.

“They will have to pay for the quarantine and test costs themselves,” Uggah said.

“Sarawakians will also be quarantined, but if their PCR test on the second day is negative, they can continue the rest of their quarantine at home with a home surveillance order.”

He added that those coming to Sarawak from the peninsula on official duty between Oct 4 and 18 must take a PCR test three days before their departure.

“These measures may seem drastic but they are necessary to protect Sarawak from Covid-19 as many of our cases are imported,” Uggah said.