Reopening borders not an option for now
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believes it is still not time to lift the interstate travel ban between Sarawak and other states in a bid to revive the tourism industry.
Expressing concern over the number of Covid-19 cases daily, he said even if the ban was lifted, people would still be reluctant to travel due to restrictions that have been put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“I think it is not appropriate and not the time yet to open our borders,” he told a press conference after officiating at the Prihatin Youth Programme 2021.
“Even if you open the borders, I don’t think travellers or foreigners will be coming due to the restrictions in place, such as the requirement to be quarantined first.”
Abdul Karim was asked to comment on former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s appeal to the government to lift the ban between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak in order to revive the tourism industry in the eastern states.
“As much as I would love to see the opening of borders, where foreigners and those from other states could visit to boost the tourism industry, we must also assess the Covid-19 situation we are facing, with daily new cases being in the thousands in the country,” Abdul Karim said.
On a separate matter, the minister said the placing of individuals entering the state in hotels for their mandatory quarantine was part of efforts to assist the hard-battered hotel industry by increasing their occupancy rate.
He added his ministry would be launching new tourism programmes to promote tourism in the state once the Covid-19 situation comes under control.
On the Prihatin Youth Programme 2021, he said it was meant to enhance the state’s youth development initiative, inculcate virtues of responsibility and caring for the disadvantaged community and promoting the spirit of volunteerism.
“Youths play important role in realising the agenda of a united and balanced society, in line with the ministry’s vision of ‘World Class Youth and Sports for All by 2030’,” he said.
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Youth and Sports, also handed over grants amounting RM120,000 to 12 welfare organisations at the event.
The recipients were Pusat Jagaan Nur Murni, Rumah Kanakkanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, Lembaga Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Sarawak, The Salvation Army Kuching Boy’s Home, Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) Samarahan, PDK Harmoni Asajaya, Sarawak Society for the Deaf, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Persatuan Kebajikan Kanakkanak Terencat Akal Sarawak (Perkata), The Society for Kuching Urban Poor, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah Kuching and Pusat Pemulihan Penagihan Narkotik (Puspen) Kuching.
Eight boarding schools – SMK Asajaya, SMK Hajjah Laila Taib, SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, SMK Agama Tun Ahmad Zaidi, SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab, SMK Agama Matang 2, SMK Balai Ringin and SMK Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Normah – meanwhile received RM80,000.
Abdul Karim said his ministry would also donate face masks and hand sanitisers to the eight boarding schools.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad and Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman were among those present.