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Dr. Sim Kui Hian
KUCHING: Mocking domestic quarantine is now a punishable offense under the Sarawak Health Protection Ordinance, after Public Health Protection (Measures on Conducting Activities in Infected Local Areas) (No. 2) Order 2020 was published today.
The Minister of Local Government and Housing, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, said that the Order, which will take effect from today until June 9, should guarantee compliance with the quarantine measures imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19 .
“As we all know, the first wave of Covid-19 has been successfully treated.
“But now we are more concerned as companies are resuming operations and students at the remote station are returning and more Sarawak residents want to travel (between districts).
“We are concerned about the second wave,” he said today in the Covid-19 daily update.
Dr. Sim, who has a brief portfolio of health surveillance, said the Order needed to be published to give it a legal position so that those in violation of the law could be prosecuted.
He noted that comments have been received about the return of the Sarawakians who did not comply with the measures that forced them to be quarantined for 14 days.
He said some of them included those who must wear a QR code bracelet during their quarantine period.
“Several people commented that those wearing this bracelet had been seen outside going from here to there. This defeats the purpose of home quarantine.
“According to this gazette, it will be an offense if you wear this bracelet but you don’t stay home,” he said.
He also said that this new law was possible in Sarawak because the state has autonomy from local government.
“Some states like the Penang and Johor governments cannot do this because they have to follow national laws,” he said, adding that public health issues are framed by local government issues.
He noted that as more business and student resume operations return during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period, Sarawak needed to strengthen its control and preventive measures.
“We need cooperation and understanding from all Sarawakians to avoid having a second wave of Covid-19.
“Look at what Singapore had experienced. We don’t want to suffer again like in the first wave, “he added.
According to a copy of the gazette distributed to the media, the 2020 Public Health Protection Order (Measures on the carrying out of activities in infected local areas) (No. 2) will be read together with the Public Health Protection ( Movement of People in infected local areas) Order, 2020.
He stated that measures to monitor movement include the use of electronic tagging or any other means issued by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee with the approval of the Minister.
He added that anyone who violates “any provision of this Order or any address made below” would be committing a crime.
Those under home quarantine today received a text message saying that any violation of the home quarantine order would be punishable by a fine of up to RM3,000.
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