Sarawak will not reopen economy on Monday

Sarawak has decided that it will not follow Putrajaya's lead in reopening the economy on Monday and maintain status quo in terms of the movement control order (MCO) restrictions.

In a statement today, Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) head and Deputy Chief Minister Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (above) said the state government must consider Sarawak's circumstances first before making a decision.

Uggah said the SDMC is presently of the opinion that the standard of compliance for the reopening of economic activities was not conducive in the state.

"The Sarawak government fully respects the announcement made by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the need to reopen the economy hence relaxing the MCO effective this Monday, May 4.

"However, the state government has decided to study the implications of the reopening of such economic activities, which sectors to open, when and to what extent they will be allowed to open," he said.

Uggah said the SDMC will study changes to the regulations under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020 first.

Meanwhile, Uggah said businesses that have been granted permits by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) will still need state government approval before resuming operations.

Officially, the MCO will expire on May 12 but Putrajaya will allow most businesses to resume operations by Monday to avoid further economic pain.

Some critics have claimed that this was too soon and businesses will not have enough time to internalise the new guidelines for resuming business, set by the National Security Council (NSC). - Mkini