Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas’ speech on Covid-19 updates at the Dewan Undangan Negeri on May 11, 2020
1. BACKGROUND
COVID-19 is now a Global Pandemic.
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| Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah anak Embas |
Our world faces a common enemy and we are at war with a virus.
The Coronavirus does not discriminate social, racial, political or professional boundaries and background – and we are forced to confront a combination of a health and economic crisis head-on!
We are in an unprecedented situation and the normal rules no longer apply. We cannot resort to the usual tools in such unusual times. But in managing this crisis, we also have a unique opportunity.
Currently, there are 4.1 million reported positive cases with 2.4 million active cases - with nearly 300,000 deaths in the world!
In Singapore, 23,300 positive cases were reported; with 20,595 are active cases and 20 deaths.
As of yesterday, it was reported that Malaysia total positive COVID19 cases were 6,656 with 1,523 active cases and 108 deaths.
In Sarawak total reported positive case were 543 and 17 deaths due to COVID-19.
With a total of 543 positive cases, only 166 are currently active cases.
Out of the 40 districts in Sarawak, the number of districts in the Red zone category has recently reduced to 1 which is Kuching. 8 districts are now Yellow zone (including; Samarahan, Tebedu, Lundu, Sibu, Bau, Serian, Bintulu and Limbang), while 31 district are now categorized as a Green Zone, with Miri recently turn Green yesterday. Taniah!
2. OUR STRATEGIES:
In addition to the enforcement of Movement Control Order (MCO), the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) had implemented several strategies and measures to curb the spread and to break the chain of the COVID19 virus in Sarawak. Among them are:
i. As early as the first week of February, SDMC had made it compulsory for all travellers entering the State to fill in the Health Declaration Forms (now the E-Health Declaration Form) (before the MCO began)
ii. On the 25th February 2020, we have banned foreigner entry to Sarawak. While, Sarawakians from overseas are to undergo compulsory 14 days quarantine to prevent imported cases.
iii. It was made mandatory for all Sarawakians returning from abroad (West Malaysia, Labuan and Sabah) to undergo compulsory quarantine for two weeks – now they are only required to undergo Home Quarantine.
iv. screening of essential services personnel and none essential personnel with different protocols
v. introduced Stay Home Notices (with the digital wristband for reporting) to those who has undergone quarantine in Kuala Lumpur as an additional effort
vi. increase screening capacities by opening up screening centres and drive-through testing
vii. increasing our testing capability by setting up our own PCR Labs in 4 main hospitals and Unimas (from 4 days’ turnover result to 2 days)
viii. the set-up of 2 Special Committee:
a) Border Security Committee led by YB Tan Sri James Masing
· To tighten our security at the border
b) Food Assistance Committee led by YB Datuk Amar Awang Tengah
· Their task was to monitor the food supply and formulate strategies to distribute food to ensure distressed Sarawakians will have access to food supplies.
ix. Set-up of 4 Task Force to coordinate and map out the whole operation. The task force were led by health care professionals and were tasked to monitor, analyse, report and focus on:
a) Active contact tracing exercises led by Dr. Jamilah Hashim,
b) Preventing and controlling the next waves led by Datu Prof. Dr. Andrew Kiyu,
c) Preparedness Plan for the Big Wave led by YB Dato Sri Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian,
d) Real-time Analysis of Data on COVID-19 led by Datu Prof. Dr. Andrew Kiyu
These strategies have allowed us to stagger and reduce the number of cases and plan for our next step.
4. MCO AND ITS IMPACTS
Nearly two months ago on the 18th of March, Malaysia decided to impose a Movement Control Order (MCO) which directed the closure of non-essential Government and private sectors; a prohibition on mass movements and gatherings and a strong advice for Malaysians to stay at home.
Fundamentally, it is a strict enforcement of social distancing on our citizens to prevent unnecessary human contact and break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.
A preliminary report on the impact of COVID-19 to the socio-economic well-being of communities in Sarawak was conducted during MCO3. The report focused on six (6) focused areas that include business; agriculture; self-employment workers; education; social welfare and health.
From the report, it is shown that all sectors are heavily affected by the effect of the MCO. Evidently the businesses and employment sector with unemployment and reduction of monthly income (for both employers and self-employed) were hit the hardest.
5. SARAWAK ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE/CUSHION THE IMPACT:
YAB Datuk Patinggi Chief Minister is fully aware of the difficulty faced by all Sarawakian, the business community, self-employed, SME, farmers, fisherman unemployed and B40s – due to the effect of the imposed MCO.
Thus, YAB CM has announced three (3) stimulus packages – the Sarawakku Sayang Special Aid Package or Pakej Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS). BKSS1 (RM1.15 billion), BKSS2 (RM1.11 billion) and BKSS3 (RM0.29 billion) totalling RM2.55 billion. These packages are to cushion the impact of Covid-19 on our people and businesses.
In addition, RM16.4 million was allocated under Sarawaku Sayang Food Aid Programmes, RM10 million allocated to purchase PPEs for Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Sarawak (JKNS) for our frontliners and additional funding to run the quarantine centers throughout the State and providing accommodation for health care workers (doctors and nurses).
All these packages and support given by the State Government reflects the State’s concerns over the welfare and well-being of all Sarawakian during this MCO period.
For the August House information, the State has the financial resources to implement all the projects it has set out to implement including Sarawakku Sayang Aid Packages which are meant to address the impacts of Covid-19 outbreak.
The package Bantuan Sarawaku Sayang 2020 BKSS1, BKSS2 and BKSS 3, total of RM2.55 billion.
The sources of funding are from:
1. Contingency fund
2. 2020 Development Budget (Micro Credit Schemes)
3. Savings from unimplemented projects and savings from Development Fund Account
4. RM1 billion is using fund from Bank Negara (Special Relief Fund) – State only absorb interest subsidy
Rakyat Sarawak jangan risau. The State has the financial resources to complement the Bantuan Sarawakku Sayang programme. It has been disbursed since April.
Thus, I was shock to read allegation by The Honourable Member for Bawang Assan appearing in Borneo Post on 5th May when questioning the Government ability to pay for the programme. He even pointed out that there is no contingency fund approved for 2020.
Where he stated, I quote,
“The Chief Minister, when announcing the aid package, said “it is not necessary for the Sarawak Government to table an additional Supply Bill for all the aid packages that have been announced. This is because the funds are already made available via the Contingency Fund as approved by the DUN in the 2020 Budget. However, there is no provision for any Contingency Fund in Budget 2020, let alone one which can pay for the aid packages of RM2.2664 billion. It calls into question as to how the Chief Minister can appropriate such large funds without approval of the DUN.“ End quote.
It is indeed baffling to see someone who had served as a Second Finance Minister in Sarawak for 15 years could be so Out of Touch with the State’s financial system let alone the financial mechanism that he had supported before his resignation less than a year ago. I cannot believe that YB Bawang Assan choose to mislead the public that there is no provision of contingency reserve in budget 2020.
On the issue raised in the article “The Budget that never was and never will be” appeared in a local newspaper. I wish to inform the house that the government is looking into the implications of the article. Although the government will accept constructive criticisms, the government reserves its rights to take measures to protect its integrity over insinuations of improper motives as well malicious attempts to mislead and embarrass the government.
We record our appreciation to the federal government especially YB Prime Minister of Malaysia for the Federal Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Packages. It has indeed reduced the burden of the rakyat during this MCO period.
6. WHERE ARE WE NOW (6 CRITEREON FOR REOPENING BY WHO FOR GUIDANCE)
I am pleased to inform this August house where we are now in this war. The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined 6 criteria for lifting MCO COVID-19 restrictions.
The SDMC along with medical experts has studied the situation in Sarawak using the 6 aforesaid criteria and found that:
Criteria 1: Transmission Is Controlled (Epidemiological Week, EW)
ü Sarawak has managed to reduce its Weekly Incidence Rate (IR) from 2.43 per 100,000 populations at epid week (EW) 17 to 1.38 on epid week (EW) 18 and today we are in EW19 with an EW of only 0.78 per 100,000 populations. While the weekly IR for Malaysia is 1.32.
Criteria 2: Additional Capacity In The Health System Is In Place To Trace
ü Currently Sarawak can cope as MCO bring down the number of contacts per case
ü Also doing Active Case Detection
ü Taking further steps to improve the contact tracing and testing process
Criteria 3: Treat And Isolate Patient Outbreaks Risks Are Minimized In Special Settings Like Nursing Homes
ü Making it compulsory to screen and sample all residents and workers of nursing home
Criteria 4: Preventive Measures Are In Place
ü The State has released its SOPs and Guidelines for businesses and public activities to be adhered to before allowing any activities to begin operating
ü Especially in work places, supermarkets and wet markets.
Criteria 5: Importation Risks Can Be Managed
ü No foreigners allowed to enter Sarawak
ü All those returning to Sarawak from overseas are subjected to 14 days quarantine
ü All Sarawakians returning from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan will be given a Stay Home Notice
ü Border security has been tightened
Criteria 6: Communities Are Engaged To Adjust To The New Norm
ü Public to accept and adopt the new normal in their daily routine e.g. wearing a mask, social distancing and clean/wash hands
ü The public remained at home during the MCO
ü Compliance of MCO was over 97% in the State
After analysing our situation vis-à-vis the 6 criteria set by WHO, there is still much to be done. However we need to balance between society health and economic impact to the State.
Therefore, SDMC has decided to allow economic activities to be open gradually beginning 12th May 2020.
7. UCAPAN TAKZIAH DAN UCAPAN PENHARGAAN
Saya ingin merakamkan ucapan Takziah kepada ahli keluarga mangsa yang telah meninggal dunia akibat jangkitan COVID-19. Sehingga hari ini, terdapat 17 kes kematian akibat COVID-19 telah dilaporkan sejak kes pertama positif pada 13 Mac 2020.
Saya turut menzahirkan harapan supaya rakyat Sarawak terus berdoa agar bersama-sama memanjatkan doa mengikut agama masing-masing supaya usaha membendung wabak COVID-19 ini dirahmati, diberkati dan situasi dapat ditangani serta berakhir dengan segera.
Burung kenyalang terbang tinggi,
Bendera Sarawak tanda berani,
Banyak Bantuan dari Kerajaan Negeri,
Bukti keperihatinan YAB Ketua Menteri,
Bendera Sarawak tanda berani,
Banyak Bantuan dari Kerajaan Negeri,
Bukti keperihatinan YAB Ketua Menteri,
Kami ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada YAB Ketua Menteri di atas kepimpinan beliau dalam memberi khidmat nasihat, sokongan dan pandangan dalam memastikan situasi COVID-19 di Sarawak berada dalam keadaan terkawal.
Kepada semua Ahli-ahli Kabinet dan Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat terima kasih diucapkan kerana banyak memberi sokongan dan buah fikiran bagi sama-sama membantu mengekang penularan wabak ini.
Kepada seluruh jentera Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana di peringkat Negeri, Bahagian dan Daerah yang sama-sama bertungkus lumus dalam memastikan pengurusan di peringkat masing-masing berjalan dengan lancer dan teratur.
Saya juga turut mengucapkan terima kasih dan tahniah kepada semua petugas barisan hadapan kita yang telah banyak berkorban sepanjang tempoh dua tiga bulan ini untuk memastikan semua rakyat negeri Sarawak terselamat daripada wabak COVID-19. Saya juga merakamkan ucapan terima kasih kepada seluruh rakyat negeri Sarawak dari Lundu hingga ke Lawas yang sentiasa berdisiplin mematuhi arahan PKP dan PKPB sehingga memudahkan para petugas barisan hadapan kita menangani krisis ini.
Tidak dilupa juga kepada semua penderma dari dalam dan luar negeri yang telah menyumbang dalam bentuk tunai dan peralatan bagi memastikan keperluan mengurus wabak ini tidak terputus.
Hasil daripada usaha bersungguh-sungguh yang dilakukan oleh para petugas barisan hadapan dan disiplin semua rakyat Sarawak sepanjang tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Bersyarat (PKPB) dilaksanakan, kita telah berjaya menjadikan 31 Daerah daripada 40 Daerah di negeri kita berstatus hijau. Kawasan-kawasan ini tidak mencatatkan sebarang kes positif COVID-19 terbaharu dalam tempoh 14 hari.
8. CLOSING REMARKS:
Sarawak has been on the right track.
We have witnessed our cases peaked and gradually observed the flattening of the curve.
Our positive cases maintained in single digits these couple of days. Numbers of district turning green has increased.
However, we should not be complacent.
Until the Covid-19 vaccine is found, there is not much reason for us to belief and expect that this pandemic will come to a quick and decisive end.
According to the Imperial College report, even if it peaks, reversed waves could occurs e.g the Cases in Singapore.
Therefore, let us remain united ,resolute and exercise restrain, no politic - in our fight against COVID-19.
Take sensible precaution help one another, stay calm, stay safe and save lives.
With the support and cooperation of everyone,
We will win this war!
I would like to end with a pantun -
Dari Betong pergi ke Debak,
Membeli kuih bersama Makcik Kiah,
Kalau mahu mengekang Wabak,
Diam sahaja duduk di Rumah,
Membeli kuih bersama Makcik Kiah,
Kalau mahu mengekang Wabak,
Diam sahaja duduk di Rumah,
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