‘Not our intention to stigmatise’
Dr Sim calls for understanding from businesses on SDMC decision to reveal Covid-19 exposure
The Sarawak Disaster Management Commi ee’s (SDMC) decision to make public businesses that have been exposed to Covid-19 is not to stigmatise them, said Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He said in view of the rising cases in Malaysia, it is hoped that with this measure, Sarawak would be on a different trajectory compared to Sabah and the peninsula.
“The most important thing to know is that if you are around a business premises with positive cases, you help us and come forward so that we can PCR test you.
“The whole purpose of this is not to stigmatise any shops. In fact tomorrow hopefully we will do the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the shops exposed to positive cases.
“With the proper procedures, disinfection, deep cleaning and so on, and the staff tested and reassessed, those business premises will be the safest place you can go when they reopen,” he said.
Dr Sim was speaking to reporters during the SDMC Covid-19 update press conference here yesterday.
He said as promised by SDMC on Tuesday to publicly announce the list of premises and time of exposure to Covid-19 cases, Sarawak was applying its own Protection of Public Health Ordinance.
“Sometimes because some people forgot if earlier on you got tested with negative results, but Day 10 you may be positive. So it’s not just one test with negative results then you are happy, because it may be too early,” he said.
Dr Sim assured that SDMC and his ministry would strive to update the list as frequently as possible from data obtained from MySejahtera, Qmunity and manual check-ins, as well as contact tracing from positive patients.
We hope that the companies or places that know that their staff are (Covid-19) positive can also help us by voluntarily telling the public so that you are (seen as) credible, you really care for your staff and your customers. Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian
He added that the list could be viewed in the media following SDMC daily Covid-19 statements, and would be furnished in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing website at mlgh. sarawak.gov.my.
Apart from that, he also urged companies and employers with staff that were known to have been infected by Covid19 to voluntarily come forward and inform the public or their customers.
“We hope that the companies or places that know that their staff are (Covid-19) positive can also help us by voluntarily telling the public so that you are (seen as) credible, you really care for your staff and your customers.
“You can voluntarily tell people first to help us,” he said.
Even with the rising number of new cases in the country, Sarawak still remains one of the safest states in the country, he said, adding that this was all due to the support and cooperation of Sarawakians.
“We want to thank Sarawakians for continuing to support us (SDMC) because Sarawak is still one of the safest states, and everybody needs to count to play your role and do your part.
“This is because the same virus as last year is still around this year, but also with variants that are more infectious.
“Even though we can see the end of Covid-19 is near, we can see the finishing line, but the most dangerous period is now when we have so many cases and clusters in Malaysia, and we need every Sarawakian to protect Sarawak,” said Dr Sim.