Sarawakians commend SDMC’s efforts in managing pandemic

KUCHING: Many Sarawakians from different work backgrounds have voiced out their support for the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in its efforts to find the right balance between public health safety and economic survival while managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Syahrir Iman who owns a construction company with 120 employees said that those from the industry rely on the construction work performed at site.

“Imposing the movement control order (MCO) will result in slow or no progress at our project site which would be detrimental to the survival of our business.

“Half of our employees rely on daily wages. Having MCO would mean no income at all for them,” he said.

Syahrir supported SDMC’s decision to only impose targeted enhanced movement control order (EMCO) as it allows businesses to run and generate income for the survival of fellow Sarawakians who are working.

He praised SDMC for doing a great job in dealing with Covid-19 and reminded everyone to continue to adhere to and comply with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by them.

Melvin Liew Yik Hung, Innovation Hub and Izakaya Japanese Restaurant operator foresees that businesses and the people will suffer should there be re-imposition of MCO after taking into account the current economic outlook and the significant rise in unemployment rate.

According to Liew, the food and beverage (F&B) industry saw a decline in revenue which resulted in difficulties in sustaining the business and retaining the employees.

He added that smaller F&B operators would be greatly impacted by the drop of sales.

“From an innovation hub operator’s perspective – mid-sized Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were downscaling and decentralising causing a decrease in productivity and efficiency.

“There was a rise in freelancers due to high unemployment rate, resulting in them unable to benefit from major upskilling programmes provided, which mainly cater to those newly employed or fortunate enough to be employed,” said Liew.

He commended SDMC’s decision to maintain EMCO at targeted areas and reminded that every single peerson in the community has a crucial role to play in combating the spread of Covid-19.

Charles Liew Tchen-Tchii, managing director of SHiNE Pharmacy Sdn Bhd said that implementation of MCO in Sarawak would shake the local socio-economic ecosystem that in recent months has slowly but surely started to show signs of recovery.

“The stabilisation of the local economy from the pandemic trauma would be hugely reversed if the MCO was forced upon the state.

“I am convinced that the SDMC knows best and have the situation under control,” he added.

Charles said that while many might think that the healthcare industry, or more specifically the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, would emerge unscathed from the MCO, the truth is that only large-scale pharmacies with ready resources could sustain and capitalise.

“Smaller community pharmacies, which form 90% of the local pharmacy market, still do not yet have e-commerce web presence or delivery service, to name a few.

“With rental, staff salary and other costs to pay, smaller community pharmacies, almost all locally-owned, will suffer,” he said.

He agreed with SDMC’s decision to maintain targeted EMCO approach. It meant Sarawak could continue to make small steps in the right direction towards full economic recovery, and at the same time, help to maintain standards of living for all Sarawakians.

He also reminded everyone to take the most basic of precautions like wearing face masks and sanitising thoroughly, and ensuring all their loved ones do the same.

“Also please get yourself signed up for vaccination because the sooner everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner press statements like this become a thing of the past,” he said.