‘Many in Sarawak prefer MCO but only if financial aid given’

MIRI: Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak yesterday urged the state government to consider implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO) in view of the worrying Covid-19 situation in the state.

Its secretary Senator Alan Ling said based on feedback from the ground, many were in favour of MCO instead of the current Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) but only on the condition that financial assistance be given to those affected.

“Even with CMCO, many businesses especially restaurants, coffee shops, bistros and other food and beverage outlets cannot have dine-in guests.

“Many of them are actually willing to sacrifice if the state government wants to have another round of MCO, provided that they are assured of economic recovery and that financial assistance is given to those who are affected,” he said.

Ling claimed that the state had the Covid-19 pandemic well under control last year but that this unraveled after the government loosened its entry policy by allowing home-based quarantine early this year.

He said it was only after many new infection clusters emerged following the Pasai Cluster that the state government re-imposed the strict hotel quarantine requirement on those entering Sarawak.

“This is a bitter lesson learnt and to date, we have not seen any sign of abatement. Instead, the number of Covid-19 positive cases keeps worrying us where at times, we top other states in the country,” Ling said.

Many of them are actually willing to sacrifice if the state government wants to have another round of MCO...

Senator Alan Ling

He also claimed that the state’s healthcare system would be incapable of coping with the pandemic should the number of cases continue to surge.

“Given all the above limitations faced, the State Disaster Management Committee should give serious thought of implementing MCO with financial assistance given to hawkers, petty traders, and small-medium enterprises (SMEs).

“There should also be wage subsidy for workforce and direct financial grants to severely affected sectors like the food and beverage industry and tourism sector,” he said, adding the state should dip into its RM26 billion reserves to help those who are affected.