KUCHING, May 27 — The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), with approval the National Security Council (NSC) Sarawak, has decided to declare a statewide Movement Control Order (MCO) beginning May 29 until June 11.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the NSC will publish the standard operating procedure (SOP) guidelines tomorrow on its website.

"This MCO over a period of several weeks is important to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state,” he said during a press conference today.

When asked if the SOP would be the same as the first MCO back in March last year, he said the public should wait for it to be released on the NSC website tomorrow.

Uggah pointed out that poor SOP compliance since the imposition of the Conditional MCO (CMCO) in Sarawak on May 12 has contributed to the increasing number of new Covid-19 cases and new clusters in the state of late, especially during the Hari Raya celebration recently.

He said because of that and after taking into account the critical situation at the medical facilities all over the state, as well as the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant of concern (VoC) in the state recently, the state government has decided to take a more drastic action by imposing the MCO.

Meanwhile, Uggah advised those celebrating Gawai to abide by the MCO’s SOP which would be issued tomorrow and to celebrate the festival only among household members at home or in their respective longhouse units or ‘bilek’, or celebrate virtually by using technology.

He also advised those celebrating to refrain from going back to their respective villages, hometowns or longhouses, and not to go to an open house visiting, or participate in cock-fighting activities.

"This is for the sake of protecting our loved ones, our family, neighbours and friends. Our culture, tradition, customs and identity will not be lost if we don’t celebrate (Gawai) this year.

"I call on the public to understand and support the action by the state government. The sacrifices you make is to protect yourself and your loved ones.

"Please sympathise with all frontliners especially the medical staff, who had to bear the huge burden disregarding their leaves or festive celebrations,” said Uggah. — Borneo Post