Dr Sim: Covid-19 situation would be much worse if not for MCO

KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian gave Sarawakians a grim warning from Italy’s experience with Covid-19, saying the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) was the right move.

He said the number of Covid19 deaths in Italy rose drastically from 17 deaths in February to almost 10,000 a month later due to the country prolonging on lockdown measures.

“When Italy wanted to ban any movement inside the country, there were protests from its citizens.

“We don’t want Sarawak to follow Italy’s path and that is why the government has decided to enforce the MCO,” he told a press conference at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

He urged Sarawakians to cooperate with the government by staying at home and minimising unnecessary travel.

“If people continue to move around, then you will see that the number of Covid-19 cases will start increasing.

“We want Sarawak to fla en the curve and so these few weeks of MCO, although it is very inconvenient, it is only temporary.

“If we can get this under control for the next two to three weeks, we can go back to our normal lives sooner,” he stressed.

On a related issue, Dr Sim said the police in Sarawak have arrested 276 people for defying the MCO between March 18 and 31.

“Yesterday (Monday) alone, 46 people were arrested,” he disclosed.

He said 83 have since been charged in court whereas 63 pleaded guilty.

“A total of 54 have been given a jail term between one and four months, and 12 were fined between RM1,000 and RM2,000,” he added.

When Italy wanted to ban any movement inside the country, there were protests from its citizens. Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian