Sarawak people were shock this morning to be greeted by newspaper front page news of “Sarikei MP admitted to Sibu Hospital as PUI for Covid-19” (Borneo Post 15 march 2020).

With Sarikei MP treated as Person-Under-Investigation (PUI), both Sarawak and federal government should be alert of the possibility of a cluster has been formed in Sarikei which could likely spread virus from Sarikei into surrounding areas like Sibu and Bintangor. Hence, the authority should immediately investigate and educate locals and surrounding people on prevention measures at the same time to distribute face mask and sanitizer .

On the same page of Borneo Post, State Disaster management Committee Chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah reported that Sarawak recorded 6 new positive coronavirus disease (Covid-19) making a total of 9 cases. In Sarawak there are 34 new person-under-investigation (PUI) with a total of 372 PUI cases since Jan 10 2020. Besides 9 persons tested positive for the virus, 260 negative cases and 103 cases still waiting for laboratory results.

State Disaster management Committee reported that 492,917 arrivals have been screened by Sarawak health Department at air, land and sea entry points since Feb 1 2020 but there is no mention of screening conducted on both locals and foreigners moving in and out of ulu and rural regions, via rivers or roads, in view of incubation period of the virus being found could be more than 14 days. Our rural and ulu brothers and sisters who are far away from towns or cities with no medical facilities in the local areas therefore they are at risk of being infected by Covid-19 virus with no immediate medical assistance available. This is worrisome as it has been reported overseas Covid-19 virus infected persons if not treated immediately could be fatal. Pro-active Action and Action plan to assist the ulu and rural folks must be there to see to it that no delay in accessing this group of people and giving prompt medical assistance. Hopefully, they will not become statistics on the Covid-19 positive list.

State Disaster management Committee making regular statement on number of Covid-19 cases is not enough and they should be on the ground to find out for themselves the real situation medical staff and public facing at the same time to educate public on Covid-19 prevention and to distribute face mask and sanitizer. To ask public having symptoms of Covid-19 such as fever, cough, flue or breathing difficulty to contact crisis Preparedness and Response Centre or Divisional Health department is a very passive move. Educations on prevention of Covid-19 and personal hygiene are essential. At the same time basic facilities like clean water and electricity supply are long overdue for ulu and rural folks. When will Sarawak government and federal government put in place these basic essential facilities?

Since Sarawak has no experience in handling Covid-19, Sarawak government should take the Covid-19 as a serious matter and immediately seek medical assistance, medical supply and guideline in handling Covid-19 either from federal government or overseas before it becomes serious and epidemic.

The Minister of Local Government and Housing, Dato Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian (Borneo Post 15 march 2020) stated the number of Covid-19 cases in the state is expected to rise within the next few days. It is good of him to advise public not to spread rumors, postpone big gatherings and not to travel to Covid-19 affected countries. But the very worry public has is whether our facility can cop with the expected rise in number of Covid-19 cases.

The nine tested positive Covid-19 patients and the person-under-investigation (PUI) are in major General Hospital in Miri, Sibu, Limbang and Kuching and Public worried that Sarawak government still not on red alert to ensure sufficient facilities (such as clean beds), doctors and nurses are available for possible sudden increase of either positive or PUI cases. Are these General Hospitals equipped with necessary facilities to prevent spread of the dreadful disease to medical staff and doctors as well as to the public at large?

Of course we can’t expect Sarawak government nor federal government, to repeat what China did, to build emergency hospital to treat coronavirus patients in 10 days. But at least it must have long term planning and contingent plan to build emergency hospital and train doctors and nurses to handle present or future outbreak of dreadful diseases like H1N1 and coronavirus. Sarawak people will suffer if Sarawak government continues to adopt “last minute solution seeking method”. It was reported that during last H1N1 outbreak patients had to stay outside the building in a tent or under the sun. Hopefully, such inhumane treatment and scene will be a thing of the past.

Arthur Wong
Publicity and Information Chief
Parti Bumi Kenyalang
15.03.2020