SARAWAK has ordered tighter controls over its border with Kalimantan, including the sealing of all illegal crossings, to stop transboundary spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said the state security committee meeting he chaired this morning had agreed to boost surveillance along the 900km long border to curb illegal crossings.

“We will enhance our border control,” he said, when asked what the state was doing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus from its more populous neighbours. 

“We are monitoring and keeping tabs on what is happening to our neighbour. That’s the reason why we formed a sub-committee on security,” he said.

Even though border control is a federal matter, Abang Johari said the state had made an allocation for the purchase of assets to beef up the surveillance capability of the remote border post at Long Singut in Kapit.

The chief minister said the state’s greatest worry was the many “jalan tikus” (illegal crossings) that crisscross the border. 

“We have to enhance our security from these (illegal) crossings. (They) could be a potential (route) for our neighbours to slip into Sarawak.”

Indonesia, as of yesterday, has reported 2,273 Covid-19 cases and 198 deaths from the infection.
 
“In this Covid-19 pandemic, we have to look after ourselves,” Abang Johari added.

On what Sarawak would do if the National Security National should extend the movement control order, the chief minister said “we still have to abide by the decision of the council”.

However, the federal government had eased some of the MCO restrictions in Sarawak after receiving input from the state government.
 
Allowing the state’s hardware shops and vehicle workshops to open twice a week was one of the ways the MCO has been relaxed for Sarawak, he said.

Pet shops and veterinary clinics in the state are also permitted to reopen for business but within the hours of  7am to 7pm only. – April 9, 2020.