PDP leader appeals to SDMC to open all economic sectors
SIBU: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Central Region vice chairman Dato Sri Lau Kueng Chai has called on the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to open up the economic sectors fully with the Covid-19 pandemic situation showing signs of improvement.
“With the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme progressing well, the state election to be called next week and also the Chinese New Year celebration approaching, the sensible thing for the government to do is to open up the economy fully for the businessmen to cope with the situation,” he said.
If the economy is not opened fully, industries that remain closed will face greater damages and challenges and may need a longer period of recovery when they are eventually allowed to operate, he warned.
“All industries are related to one another and the survival of key industries required the support of the non-key industries,” he added.
Citing the sectors involving hawkers, he said hawkers were still operating in a rotational shift which is one of the requirements of the SOPs under Phase III of the National Recovery Plan. He observed that this brought inconveniences to the hawkers and, moreover, the number of people allowed to enter the hawker centre is also restricted.
‘This has affected the business of the hawkers and petty traders and as a result, some vegetable sellers and fishmongers have to incur losses due to poor business,” he claimed.
“Hopefully, the government will expedite the full opening of the economy sectors and other activities so that the people can return to live their normal life,” he urged.