KUCHING: Sarawak has decided not to enforce the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) this Monday until it has completed a study on its implications.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the Sarawak government came to the decision after taking into consideration several factors, including the Covid-19 situation, the capacity of the state health department, logistics and the geography of the state.
"Hence, the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has found that many of the standards of compliance for the resumption of economic activities will not be conducive for the state.
"Therefore, all directives announced under the previous three phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO) will remain in force (in Sarawak) for now.
"However, Sarawak will announce in stages the reopening of economic activities and other sectors," said Uggah, who is also SDMC chairman, in a statement today.
He also said the state government respects the announcement made by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the need to reopen the economy by relaxing some restrictions under the ongoing MCO through the implementation of the CMCO starting this Monday.
"However, the state government has decided to study the implications of resuming most economic activities by looking into which sectors to open, when and to what extent.
"For this purpose, the SDMC intends to make a decision after it has studied the changes in the regulations in Act 342 (the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988) pursuant to the announcement by the Prime Minister.
"The SDMC must ensure that the resumption of economic activities must suit the circumstances of Sarawak," he said.
He added that businesses given the green light by the International Trade and Industry Ministry to resume operations during the fourth phase of the MCO are required to get the state government's approval through the SDMC for their applications to be reviewed before they are allow to operate.