Dr Annuar: Those escaping lockdown areas only make things worse
SIBU: Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapa’ee has slammed those who fled Sentosa Timur Resettlement Scheme Phase II ahead of the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) enforcement.
Speaking during his daily Facebook Live session yesterday, he condemned such act as it was wrong and ‘could lead to larger spread of Covid-19 infection outside the lockdown area’.
In this regard, he commended the residents who remained compliant with the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“I heard about some residents having fled the area after finding out about the enforcement of a lockdown there (Sentosa Timur Resettlement Scheme Phase II).
“The lockdown must be enforced to contain the spread of Covid19, and we want to trace as many positive cases as possible in the area,” he said.
Dr Annuar, who is also Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) coordinator, called for full cooperation from the residents in the resettlement.
“Please be patient with the lockdown – it’s just for two weeks.
“We would not extend the lockdown, if the situation could show improvements within this period,” he said.
He pointed out that the lockdown on longhouses in Pasai Siong, which came after the emergence of Pasai Cluster on Jan 8, took effect at 11pm on that date.
“Still, some (residents) managed to escape out of the cordoned-off area. Those in any lockdown area – please stay put, and follow the instructions from the authorities.”
On a separate matter, Dr Annuar said the authorities had distributed 579 food packs to 479 families affected by the lockdown in the resettlement.
To be in force until this March 12, the EMCO over Sentosa Timur Resettlement Scheme Phase II was imposed following high number of Covid-19 cases detected there.
The area has recorded a total of 139 positive cases, including six new ones detected at Lorong Sentosa Timur 3A yesterday.