108 new Covid-19 cases in state derive from immigration depot, prisons

KUCHING: Sarawak Health Director Datuk Dr Mohamed Sapian Mohamed said 108 out of the total 406 new cases recorded in the state derived from the immigration detention depot, prison and immigration related arrests in Kuching District.

He said out of the 108, 34 were from the Batu Lintang Immigration Detention Depot in Sri Aman (Benteng Sri Aman Cluster) and 56 were from Miri Central Prisons (Tembok Miri Cluster).

Dr Mohamed Sapian said this during a press conference yesterday with Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Dr Mohamed Sapian said the relevant authorities had appealed to the Sarawak government to prepare facilities, to which the state government had agreed to build temporary detention centres amidst the current Covid-19 situation.

In his remarks, Uggah said the standard operating procedures (SOP) had been clear and all quarters should comply with it.

“But sadly, cases still happen. We will look into where we have gone wrong, whether it is the negligence of the officers or any other factors.

“We hope to be able to rectify the mistakes that we have made,” he added.

In responding to a question, Dr Mohamed Sapian said they had taken measures to prevent the recurrence of more impersonation cases, in light of the ‘Dr Shah Hairil’ case recently where a youth was caught impersonating as a doctor at the Stadium Perpaduan vaccination centre.