Laundries, optical shops can now operate under Sarawak’s latest MCO SOPs

Optical shops are among the services allowed to operate under the MCO in Sarawak. — Bernama photo

KUCHING (June 1): Laundries, including self-service launderettes, and optical shops are now allowed to operate under the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Movement Control Order in Sarawak until June 14.

The National Security Council (MKN) also updated its list of food and beverage operators allowed to operate to include roadside hawkers, mobile stalls, food courts, hawker centres, roadside food stalls or kiosks, restaurants, food stalls, food premises, and food trucks.

However, dine in or park and dine services are strictly prohibited and only takeaway, drive through, and delivery services are allowed.

The council said public markets, wet markets, wholesale markets, and tamu under the jurisdiction of local authorities are allowed to operate.

Other essential services allowed to operate included retail and sundry shops for essential items; supermarkets; hardware shops; electrical and electronic goods; packaging and printing; healthcare; vehicle sales, maintenance, and repairs; health and safety equipment shops; pet food; agriculture products; and other retail shops permitted by the state Ministry of Local Government and Housing or Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

For outlet stores, hypermarkets, and shopping malls, only premises supplying essential goods and food can open.

Sectors now allowed to operate include professional bodies, insurance, takaful service, and community credit service (pawnshops only), financial and banking services, courts and legislative services, logistics, courier and post services, solid waste and sewage management, businesses related to the defence and security sector, manufacturing industry, building and repair of ships, and timber industry.

Hotels and accommodation premises are allowed to operate for the purpose of quarantine, isolation, and essential services, but not for tourism.

Plantation, agriculture, and fishing sectors; land, air, and sea services (including e-hailing and food delivery services); as well as the construction and renovation sector are also allowed to operate.

Other sectors allowed to operate are prisons, temporary detention centres, immigration depot, one-stop centres, lock-up, electrical and energy service, government and public service, ports and airports, sectors involved in selling lubricants and fuel (including refuelling stations), telecommunications services (no retail service and counters allowed), water, food preparation service and supply, as well as broadcasting and information.

Governmental and private hospitals, clinics, health offices, animal clinics, pharmacies, and shops selling medicines are allowed to operate.

Building owners and premises outside of a building have to ensure all customers are classified as low-risk, including casual contact low risk, on the MySejahtera app before they are allowed into the premises.

Those classified as close contact, person under surveillance, and patient under investigation, are not allowed to enter.

MKN said face masks must be worn at all times, except in one’s residence involving family members, hotel room, or private accommodation with family members, own working space, indoor and outdoor recreational and sports activities, travelling in own vehicle with family members, indoor and outdoor public areas with no other individual present, and when eating in public areas.

Workers are not allowed to eat together in group without social distancing and only at a location designated by employers.

Wearing of face masks and social distancing are required in vehicles involved in transporting goods and business services.

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PM: Youths play important role in steering Malaysia’s digitalisation efforts

Youths take part in a music programme. — Bernama file photo

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Today’s youths are the generation of digital natives who play a very important role in steering and ensuring the success of the digitalisation efforts in the country, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said youths, or in Malay, ‘belia’, in the country are so lucky as they are able to make optimal use of digital applications to increase their knowledge, to communicate with each other, and even to find job and business opportunities.

“The government always encourages youths to continue exploring innovations and become idea initiators in line with the development of new technologies,” he said when virtually launching the eBelia programme today.

Muhyiddin also expressed hope that youths would take the opportunities made available through the eBelia programme, which is one of the initiatives announced under Budget 2021, to support local entrepreneurs, most of whom are the youths themselves.

“As digital natives, I believe you can spearhead the adoption of cashless payment method and encourage other business operators and traders to adopt the cashless solutions,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the eBelia programme had been improved through the Pemerkasa (Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy) initiative, in which the credit value has been increased from RM100 to RM150 for each recipient, which can be claimed from e-wallet operators in various forms such as vouchers, cashback and reward points.

Muhyiddin said with an allocation of RM300 million, the programme was expected to benefit two million Malaysian youths and full-time students aged 18 to 20 (born in the year 2001 to 2003).

“The programme is also expected to encourage businesses, especially micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME) to adopt the cashless payment method,” he said.

He said the government has always supported the people and businesses, especially the SME that were operating in this era of digitalisation with most payment transactions were done online or using cashless solutions.

“The Bank Negara Malaysia’s report shows that the e-wallet transactions in 2020 had increased by 131 per cent to 600 million transactions…and more traders had registered to accept payments through QR Code with the number of registrations showing more than a two-fold increase at the end of last year,” he said.

“For youths who were keen on venturing into business, the government has also allocated various funds, including those which focused on pushing the traders to inculcate adoption of digital elements in their business operations,” he said, citing the Bank Negara’s SME Automation and Digitalisation Facility.

At the same time, he said the government has begun to implement various aspects of digitalisation in its business with the aim to achieve cashless payments for all government services by 2022, in line with the objectives of Budget 2021 to improve the public service delivery.

“This means that members of the public no longer have to queue to make payments at the counter… Alhamdulillah, I would like to mention that, last year, 60 per cent of the government’s revenue collection was through e-payment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of e-cash service providers involved in the eBelia programme and hoped that such public-private cooperation could be continued and expanded.

Earlier, he said the digital natives, who are the main generator of the national digitalisation agenda, made up 13.4 per cent or more than 3.9 million of the Malaysian population.

He said the United Nations International Telecommunication Union has also named Malaysia as the country with the largest population of digital natives, who are youths aged 15 to 24 with at least five years of active internet use. — Bernama

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Health Ministry says possible at least one Covid-19 variant already entrenched in Malaysia

A health worker carries Covid-19 swab samples for testing. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Malaysia’s dire Covid-19 situation may worsen further as at least one variant of concern (VOC) could have spread to all states in the country, the Health Ministry said today.

VOC are variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19, of which there are five that have been flagged by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The variants are causing alarm as they are more infectious than the wild type SARS-CoV-2, could cause more severe symptoms in younger patients, and could be more difficult to detect.

“The Health Ministry does not reject the possibility that there has already been a wider spread of at least one variant of concern within the communities of all Malaysian states.

“Considering that VOCs have been found to have a higher infectivity rate, all individuals must take the situation seriously,” the ministry said on Twitter today.

#COVID19 KKM tidak menolak kemungkinan sudah pun berlaku penularan lebih meluas dalam komuniti bagi sekurang-kurangnya satu jenis Variant of Concern (VOC) di semua negeri di Malaysia.

Memandangkan VOC didapati mempunyai kadar kebolehjangkitan yang lebih pic.twitter.com/eaR76jZw1v

— KKMalaysia (@KKMPutrajaya) June 1, 2021

Recently, the ministry also began recommending the practice of “double-masking” as a safety precaution, in light of the discovery that some Covid-19 transmissions could be airborne.

Malaysia started a two-week ‘total lockdown’ today as part of the government’s three-phase plan to contain the latest surge in Covid-19 infections.

The country has been reporting new daily cases in the upper four-digit range for most of May, pushing the public health system to its limit to treat Covid-19 cases, especially those requiring intensive care. — Malay Mail

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Putrajaya announces up to 50 pct allowance cut for civil servants except front-liners, funds to go towards Covid-19 fight

The contributions from over 800,000 civil servants are estimated to be over RM30 million. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali has announced that a portion of civil servants’ allowances will be sent towards the effort of fighting Covid-19.

The deductions from the fixed entertainment allowance (ITK) will be 50 per cent for those in the highest Jusa A, 20 per cent for those in Jusa B, 10 per cent from those in Jusa C, and 5 per cent for those from Grades 56 to 44.

The deductions will not apply to those classified as front-liners. For those in Grades 41 to 29, RM10 will be deducted from their public service fixed allowance (ITKA).

All the funds will be sent to the National Disaster Relief Fund.

“The contributions from over 800,000 civil servants, excluding front-liners or those in Grade 1 to Grade 28, is estimated to be over RM30 million,” Zuki said in a statement.

The deductions will last for a period of three months.

He added the contributions are a gesture of the civil service’s solidarity, following Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement yesterday that he, all federal ministers and their deputies will contribute their salaries for three months towards the relief fund.

“Letters detailing the implementation of these contributions will be issued in the nearest future.

“We understand that civil servants are the constant backbone of the government in its efforts to balance between lives and livelihood,” Zuki said.

As such the contributions are a sign of their solidarity in supporting the government’s efforts in the war against Covid-19 and ensure the infections are flattened.

“‘May this sacrifice become a cause for goodness in the lives of each and every civil servant, and their families.

“Let us continue in our efforts and raise our commitments in delivering the best service we can to the rakyat and nation, as well as assist in our success in overcoming this challenging time,” he said. — Malay Mail

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PM Muhyiddin launches e-Belia scheme for two million youths to spur e-commerce adoption

e-Belia will giveRM150 in e-wallet funds to all youths aged 18 to 20 as well as full-time undergraduates in Malaysia’s tertiary institutes.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government officially launched the e-Belia programme today that will give RM150 in e-wallet funds to all youths aged 18 to 20 as well as full time undergraduates in Malaysia’s higher education institutes (IPT).

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government’s RM300 million allocation for the programme under Budget 2021 is expected to benefit two million Malaysians aged 18 to 20 as well as full-time IPT students.

He said the initiative is also expected to encourage businesses — especially micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — to start accepting cashless payment and accelerate the shift to a digital economy.

“Please take this opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs, who are mainly youths as well. As a digital citizen, I believe you can pioneer cashless payment methods, thus encouraging other merchants to use such payment methods,” he said in his speech at the launch that was done online today.

Malaysian youth and students who are eligible for the benefit must download the participating e-wallet app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery.

The e-cash service providers involved are BigPay, Boost, ShopeePay, and Touch ‘n Go eWallet

The credit claim period is from 1 June 2021 to 22 July 2021, and the credit can be spent until 31 July 2021.

Most of the operators will also match or offer greater amounts than the government’s RM150, in the form of credits or reward points.

Muhyiddin added that the government has always supported citizens and businesses, especially SMEs, to conduct business in the era of digitalisation, where payment transactions are made online or cashless.

He said that a Bank Negara Malaysia report showed that e-wallet transactions in 2020 have increased by 131 per cent to 600 million transactions. More merchants have signed up to receive payments via QR Code, with the number of registrations more than doubling at the end of last year.

“For youths who want to venture into the business world, I would like to share that the government has provided various funding allocations, including those focused on encouraging entrepreneurs to incorporate digital elements in their business operations. For example, the Automation & Digitalisation Fund managed by Bank Negara Malaysia,” he said.

Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz thanked the e-wallet operators for participating in the programme as well as Khazanah Nasional Berhad and TIME dotCom as project managers who have work hard to make this initiative a success.

He also said e-Belia would not have been successfully launched without full cooperation from the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry Human Resources, and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia that assisted the MoF in terms of communications as well as data management

“Finally, to the dear youths, don’t forget to share with your friends about this program. Take a chance of this by shopping either online or offline.

“More importantly, let’s use this avenue to support our local retailers and businesses. — Malay Mail

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King and Queen send their Hari Gawai greetings

A screenshot of the Gawai greeting from the Istana Negara Instagram page.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have sent Hari Gawai greetings to all who celebrate the festival in Sarawak.

In a post on the Istana Negara Facebook and Instagram pages, their Majesties expressed their hope that the festival would continue to spark the spirit of unity among the different races in Malaysia and strengthen unity among the people.

“Their Majesties also hope Gawai will be celebrated in the new normal with priority given to personal, family, and community safety.

“Patiently face this challenge and let us play our roles together to help fight the Covid-19 virus together in discipline, adhering to standard operating procedures under the Movement Control Order. Protect yourself, protect everyone,” added the statement. — Bernama

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ISTANA NEGARA (@istana_negara)

 

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Concern over growing popularity of TikTok among children in Malaysia

In this file photo taken on Oct 5, 2020, TikTok’s logo is pictured on a tablet screen in Toulouse, southwestern France. — AFP photo

This article is in conjunction with International Children’s Day which is celebrated on June 1 every year.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): While TikTok videos are entertaining to watch and can sometimes even be educational and meaningful, the growing popularity of this social media application among children aged between four and 13 can be a cause for concern.

As some local experts have pointed out, unrestrained use of the app can lead to negative effects, the most worrying among them being exposure to sexual predators, as well as privacy violations.

TikTok is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service that is used to make a variety of short-form videos, each with a duration of 15 seconds to one minute.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital psychiatrist Dr Ruziana Masiran, who is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, said although TikTok users below 13 are supposed to watch the censored version of the content posted on this platform, many of them may lie about their age to gain access to the uncensored content.

“TikTok is increasingly becoming the app of choice for children in Malaysia. In fact, children as young as four years already know about it and watch whatever is uploaded on the app,” she told Bernama, adding that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in TikTok usage because many people are staying at home all day.

According to United Kingdom-based market research company Global Web Index, as of February 2020, TikTok had an estimated 800 million active users worldwide. In the United States, the amount of time TikTok users spent on the app doubled from 38 minutes a day in May 2019 to 82 minutes a day in February 2020.

Dr Ruziana said the Global Web Index also showed that 90 percent of TikTok users visited the site more than once a day, with most of them spending nearly five minutes on the app which was longer than the time they spent on other social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram.

“Although 41 per cent of TikTok users worldwide are aged between 16 and 21, one-third of users in the US are aged below 14,” she said, adding that data released by parental control software company Qustodio showed that in the US, children aged from four to 14 spent an average of 82 minutes a day watching content on TikTok and 86 minutes a day watching YouTube videos between February 2019 and April 2020.

Privacy concerns

While the TikTok platform’s simplified framework provides an avenue for children and teenagers to express their creativity and also gives them free access to professional video, audio and photo editing software, the negative aspects of this video-sharing site cannot be ignored.

As Dr Ruziana pointed out, TikTok can potentially expose young users to sexual predators and sexual grooming.

“Although this platform is striving to reduce the risk of exposure to sexual predators, the issue will prevail as long as adult users keep uploading sexually explicit photographs and messages. Parents should lodge police reports against such users,” she said.

TikTok usage can also lead to privacy leakage which, stressed Dr Ruziana, is even more dangerous as it puts the safety of the children and their families at stake.

“For example, if the children make (and share) videos of them inside or outside their homes, they would unwittingly be showing the interior of their homes and their parents’ cars and number plates, and sharing their locations as well,” she said.

And, since TikTok provides an essentially infinite amount of content, children and teenagers are also likely to get hooked to it and end up watching videos for hours at a time.

“Apps such as TikTok can easily be used by predators to influence the children targeted by them. This app is used worldwide and there are no restrictions on who can use it,” she said, adding that young users can also become obsessive about their appearance.

“They are always trying to improve their looks in a bid to attract the attention of their followers and others. These children and teenagers also spend so much of their time making their own videos that their relationships with their families and friends suffer. They don’t have a social life at all.”

Parental control

Dr Ruziana added that the young users are also at risk of receiving negative comments to the videos they have posted which may cause their self-worth and self-esteem levels to plummet.

“This is an issue faced by users of all types of social media platforms. The more users the platform has, the higher the chance of drawing negative comments,” she said.

Urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities, Dr Ruziana said they should follow their children’s social media accounts and ensure that the privacy settings are properly adjusted to prevent leakage of personal data.

For TikTok, she suggested that parents use its Family Pairing feature, a parental control tool that lets parents link their child’s TikTok account with their own, giving them direct control over the child’s privacy settings.

She said parents should also teach their children to control the comment section of their social media accounts, whether they are private or public.

“Tell the children they have the power to decide whether they want to allow comments from everyone or just their followers only,” she added.

Detrimental

Psychologist Prof Datin Dr Mariani Md Nor, who is attached to SEGi University in Kota Damansara, also agreed that parental control was necessary for young users of TikTok, which she described as a beneficial app as it helps children to tap their creativity and build their self-confidence, as well as expand their language development aspect.

On the flip side is privacy leakage as a child user’s personal data can be stolen by undesirable elements should his or her video go viral.

“The child’s privacy will be violated and they can also be targeted by paedophiles who are always on the lookout for children’s images which they can easily get from viewing TikTok videos,” she added.

Mariani also said that allowing children to use TikTok without any monitoring by their parents can have detrimental effects, especially if the young users choose to watch content with sexual elements as it can influence their thinking, feelings and behaviour.

“And, if left unrestrained, these children would use TikTok as a platform to express their own emotions and feelings,” she said, adding that while TikTok has its positive features, its ‘dark side’ can have an impact on the growth and development of young users. — Bernama

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Bukit Aman: Miti letters must have QR codes to verify authenticity

A policeman checks documents at a roadblock in Labuan on May 26. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Letters authorising companies to operate during the ‘total lockdown’ that are issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) will come with a QR code to prevent falsification.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department SAC (Operations) SAC MV Srikumar M Nair said police will scan the code at roadblocks to ensure the letters are genuine.

“When the QR code is scanned, it will ask for a code number, which only the police will have. When we key in the code number, we will know whether or not the letter really tallies with the holder,” he told Bernama in an interview for Ruang Bicara PDRM last night.

He also rejected claims by certain quarters that there existed a double standard for permission for interstate and inter-district crossings for some individuals or groups.

“PDRM does not see the upper class (golongan kayangan) or otherwise. If one possesses valid documents and firm proof, then the application to cross the state or district borders will be permitted,” he said. — Bernama

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PDRM to have seven new directors from July 1

Photo shows the police crest.

KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): Seven new directors have been appointed in the Royal Malaysia Police’s (PDRM) latest transfer exercise involving 61 senior officers, effective July 1.

Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Datuk Zamri Yahya will take charge as the Special Branch director, Management director Datuk Ramli Din will be the new director of the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department, while Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim will be the director of Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA).

Apart from that, Administration CP of the Management Department Datuk Zaini Jass will be the department’s new director, Pahang Police chief Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan has been appointed as Criminal Investigation Department director; JKDNKA (operations) deputy director Datuk Azri Ahmad as Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director; while Commercial Crime Investigation Department deputy director Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din has been promoted to become the department’s director.

PDRM corporate communications secretariat’s Supt A Skandaguru said apart from them, Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias ​​would remain in his post, but with the rank of acting CP.

In a statement tonight, he said JKDNKA (special operations force) deputy director Datuk Mastor Mohd Ariff will now become the department’s deputy director (operations) with the rank of acting CP, while PDRM Secretary Datuk Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf will be Pahang Police chief with the rank of acting CP.

Meanwhile, Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (forfeiture of property/legal/detention) Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat will be the new Kedah Police chief with the rank of acting CP and Terengganu deputy police chief Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa will be the state’s new police chief with the rank of acting DCP.

Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Othman Nanyan will be the new PDRM Secretary with the rank of acting DCP. — Bernama

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Bidayuh residing in Vancouver highlights Gawai Dayak in special photoshoot

Catherine (seated, right) is joined by (standing, from left) Julie Sindon, Mona Atkinson and Sherlyn Gilbert Oscar, and two little girls Isabel (left) and Isalyn Henning, during the special Gawai photoshoot. — Photo courtesy of Cherry Oscar

KUCHING (June 1): Catherine Oscar recently had her family members and friends gathering for a special Gawai Dayak photoshoot in Vancouver, Canada as they, once again, could not fly back to Sarawak for the celebration.

The Bidayuh, who hails from Kampung Taee in Serian, said it had been five years since her family last returned to their ancestral village.

She said their homecoming plan for this year had to cancelled due to the travel restrictions and the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.

“We just want to wish ‘Slamat Anu Gawai’ (Happy Gawai Day in Bidayuh) as festive greetings from us in Vancouver. No matter the distance, no matter (where) we reside, when it comes to Gawai Dayak, it brings you back to your roots.

“During this pandemic, the Oscar siblings living here cannot go back to celebrate Gawai at Kampung Taee in Serian. We are missing our home, our loved ones and especially the Bidayuh traditional food,” she said.

Having been living in Canada for 24 years, Catherine said she and her family would make it a point to take the long journey from Vancouver to Sarawak, every three to five years, just to celebrate Gawai in Kampung Taee.

“That’s why we choose to don traditional Dayak costumes for this photoshoot, in commemoration of this special occasion,” she pointed out.

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Permit, licensing exemption granted to LPG distributors in Sarawak — Minister

Alexander Nanta Linggi

KUCHING (June 1): The federal government has agreed to grant exemption to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributors in Sarawak from applying for permit and licensing to distribute the commodity in the state.

In a statement issued from Putrajaya, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said this decision was reached during a Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) meeting on April 13, which was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and attended by the federal ministers, as well as the chief ministers of Sarawak and Sabah.

He said the meeting had agreed for exemption to be granted to the holders of Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) licences issued by the Sarawak government, from the need to obtain permission under the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 and licence under the Control of Supplies Act (CSA) 1961.

According to Nanta, at present both the PDA permission and CSA licence are regulated by his Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).

“In accordance with this understanding so that Sarawak gets to regulate the governance of its downstream gas industry as well to increase the ease of doing business, the federal government has decided that an exemption from obtaining PDA permission and CSA licence be granted to DGO licencees in Sarawak,” he said.

Nanta also said through this exemption, LPG wholesalers and retailers in Sarawak would only require DGO licensing from the Ministry of Utilities Sarawak.

“They (LPG wholesalers and retailers) no longer need to apply for a PDA permit and a CSA licence from KPDNHEP. The implementation of such exemption is expected to improve the effectiveness of LPG distribution operations and activities in Sarawak,” he said.

Adding on, Nanta said KPDNHEP had always been committed to and ready to be working with the state governments of Sarawak and Sabah in an effort to boost domestic trade activities in order to elevate the economies of both states in particular, as well as Malaysia in general.

The Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 (DGO 2016) regulating licensing fees for gas distribution in Sarawak took effect on Jan 1 last year.

Under the DGO, all activities associated with the distribution of gas or within the distribution system for supply and delivery are to be licensed by the state government.

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SOP violation: 16 individuals issued compounds in Kapit MCO ops

DSP Freddy Bian

KAPIT (June 1): Sixteen individuals were slapped with compounds during a police operation here last weekend to check on compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP) set under the latest Movement Control Order (MCO).

The MCO, which took effect last Saturday, would remain in force until this June 11.

In a statement yesterday, Kapit police chief DSP Freddy Bian said those fined comprised two individuals who were loitering at Kapit Express Terminal, four who were moving around town without the required travel permit, five who were carrying more than permitted number of passengers on board one vehicle, one who was running a shop that not categorised as an essential service, and four who failed to observe proper physical-distancing on board a boat.

“Throughout the MCO period, anyone who needs to undertake any inter-district travel must apply for a permit from the police.

“Travellers taking trips between Kapit and Song districts are required to produce valid police permit to the enforcement personnel at the roadblock near Kampung Cina Bletih.

“The police would only issue the travelling permits to applicants who produce valid, genuine reasons to undertake inter-district trips, such as transportation of essential goods, travelling to deliver government services, critical/urgent health referrals, attending Covid-19 vaccination appointment and attending the funeral of a very close family member,” said Freddy.

On another subject, he said the district police and the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) would conduct river patrols to ensure comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) under the MCO.

This followed the SRB notice on temporary suspension of express boat services covering the Kapit-Putai, Sibu-Kapit-Putai and Kapit-Belaga route sectors.

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Selected outlets at The Spring receive MoH’s greenlight to reopen today

File photo showing a queue outside Ta Kiong Supermarket. Ta Kiong Supermarket is one of the selected outlets allowed to reopen for business after being granted approval by MoH. – Photo by Antonia Chiam

KUCHING (June 1): Selected outlets at The Spring Shopping Mall here have reopened for business today after being granted approval by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

“We are delighted to announce that after meeting the full, stringent and extensive sanitisation requirements, the ministry has granted approval and issued the release order to our management on May 30, to reopen the mall on June 1,” said mall spokesperson in a statement yesterday.

It said over 1,000 mass swab-tests were administered on the employees and retailers during the active case detection (ACD) exercises conducted at the mall on May 27 and 28.

“Unfortunately, 11 personnel had tested positive for Covid-19 and them, along with their close-contacts, have been isolated by MoH to mitigate and prevent the spread of the virus,” said the spokesperson.

The outlets reopening today are Ta Kiong Supermarket, Guardian, Aeon Wellness, Liang Sandwich, Tealive, LIao lIao, Boost Juice, GNC, Big Apple Donut, Taka Patisserie, Keeper’s Ground, Aqua S, Gong Cha and Watsons – they are allowed to operate from 10am to 8pm daily.

Sushi King will reopen tomorrow.

“In addition, Ta Kiong Supermarket has initiated a numbering system to limit only 30 shoppers to enter the store at one time, to ensure the set physical-distancing is maintained.

“Free parking is available at the premier and basement carparks; therefore, shoppers may access The Spring mall through the West Court, the East Court and the basement entrances during this Movement Control Order (MCO) period,” said the spokesperson.

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Kuching police forced to shoot man who ran amok with machete

Photo shows the machete used by the suspect.

KUCHING (June 1): The police had to shoot a 24-year-old man who ran amok in the legs in self-defence at Jalan Besar Bako here yesterday.

Kuching police chief ACP Ashmon Bajah said the man armed with a machete was injured in both legs but is in stable condition in hospital.

He said the police received a call around 11.30am from the public about a man running amok and threatening to kill a member of his family.

“Two patrol cars led by a senior officer arrived at the scene to persuade the suspect, who had attacked the neighbours, (to surrender). During the negotiation the suspect suddenly rushed and swung a machete at the police officer.

“The officer then shot the suspect’s legs in self-defence,” he said in a statement.

Ashmon said initial investigations found the suspect, believed to be under the influence of drugs, has three prior criminal records involving drugs and four involving property crimes.

The case is being investigated under Sections 307 and 427 of the Penal Code.

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Ramp up vaccination programme, says Miri business chamber

Ling Chiong Sing

MIRI (June 1): The Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) has called on the government to speed up the vaccination programme in view of the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.

“Imposing the Movement Control Order (MCO) is only a temporary measure because after reopening the virus would still exist.

“However, once everyone is vaccinated, they need not have to worry about any outbreak as 70 to 80 per cent of the people would be protected by the vaccine.

“In fact, the MCO will only hurt the economy further, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) being hit the most,” said chairman Ling Chiong Sing in a press statement yesterday.

The financial aid provided by Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang, recently announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, may temporarily ease the financial burden of the people, he added, but protecting the people through vaccination is still the best solution.

Meanwhile, MCCCI will temporarily cease its registration of marriage service due to the MCO from May 29 to June 14.

This is to comply with the standard operating procedures of the State Disaster Management Committee.

Couples waiting in the queue are advised to remain patient and wait for further notice.

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Scale up mass testing to control Covid-19 pandemic – Mohamad Hasan

Mohamad said apart from ramping up vaccination, Malaysia needs to increase its mass testing capacity radically to check the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic. – Bernama file photo

KUALA LUMPUR (May 31): Apart from ramping up vaccination, Malaysia needs to increase its mass testing capacity radically to check the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, said Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said the government should also consider immediately reducing the costs for Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Rapid Test Kit Antigen (RTK-Ag) tests.

Claiming that the high cost of Covid-19 testing is stunting efforts to control the pandemic, he suggested that a price cap be imposed on test kits to make testing more affordable and accessible.

“This is the easiest way to detect positive cases and control the outbreak. With mass testing, we can encourage more individual isolation at home and provide early treatment when necessary,” he said in a statement today.

According to him, in most Western countries, test kits including self-test kits are provided in abundance at an affordable price, while technological advances have significantly improved the accuracy of RTK-Ag tests.

“The government could also utilise the expertise of the best industry players to produce RTK-Ag test kits at the cheapest price (possible) for public use. This is the time for us to use our multi-sector resources to fight this pandemic.

“Malaysia must make testing a norm. In countries like Germany, the majority of households are already conducting their own testing twice a week,” he said. – Bernama

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Miri Central Market to be closed until further notice – Mayor

Council workers sealing off the entrance at the Miri Central Market on May 24.

MIRI (May 31): Miri Central Market will be closed until further notice after five Covid-19 cases, including a death were reported recently, said Mayor Adam Yii.

Yii, in a press statement, said all of the positive cases were related to the market.

“Initially, the market was supposed to reopen today. However, with more cases reported, it shall remain closed until further instruction from the Health Ministry,” Yii added.

He said the Health Department has conducted swab tests on all close contacts to the positive cases.

“Each of these close contacts were required to undergo compulsory quarantine and to take two swab tests within the duration,” he added.

The market was closed on May 25 after a Covid-19 positive case was detected and the city council had conducted disinfection and deep cleaning works.

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Comply strictly with SOP for Gawai celebration, Bersatu S’wak chief urges Dayaks

Senator Jaziri Alkaf A Suffian

KUCHING (May 31): Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sarawak has urged Sarawakians, particularly those from the Dayak community to comply strictly with the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Gawai celebration,

Its chairman Senator Jaziri Alkaf A Suffian said the drastic increase in Covid-19 infection cases following the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration should be a lesson to all and must not be repeated during Gawai.

As such, he hoped the Dayak community will adapt to the new norms as well as avoiding inter-district movements to return to the their villages and longhouses to curb further spread of Covid-19.

“We understand that this Dayak community festival is so unique and symbolic of unity in Sarawak, but please abide by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced by the government in an effort for us to curb the increase in Covid-19 cases.

“Take a lesson from the mistakes that happened all over the country, when there were a few who stubbornly wanted to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with family and friends.

“In fact, they unknowingly spread this dangerous virus during the celebration and eventually endangered the lives of their loved ones,” he said in a statement.

He added that the ban on visiting activities during the celebration is part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

Therefore, he advised residents in Sarawak to remain at home and continue to adhere to the SOP set by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in controlling the spread of Covid-19.

“Of course, many are feeling sad because the celebration this year is not as merry as before. But we must understand the guidelines by the government, which include not allowing visiting activities during this celebration, are to prevent our loved ones from being infected,” he added

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