DEPUTY Chief Minister Douglas Uggah has ordered the police and the army to explain a security lapse that allowed Sibu longhouse residents to leave their homes during lockdown.

Uggah, who is the Sarawak disaster management committee chairman, said he had directed the police commissioner and the general officer commanding of the military’s 1st Division to explain the enforcement and security SOPs in the area.

He said even if only 1% of the people under the stay-home order managed to give the security forces the slip, that small percentage of people could infect thousands.

“I have directed the CP and the army (GOC 1 Division) to present their enforcement programmes, particularly in areas that are in lockdown.”

Sibu police chief Stanley Jonathan Ringgit yesterday said some residents of the Sibu Pasai Siong longhouses had slipped out via blind spots in the security cordon.

Ringgit said manpower for security was stretched thin.

It was reported that the longhouse residents had walked about three hours through a jungle to bypass the security cordon and reach the main road so they could hail a ride to their intended destination.

Uggah said if manpower is the problem, police could draft in personnel from other enforcement agencies like Rela.

He said former servicemen could also be roped in to assist.

Some 48 longhouses in and around the Pasai Siong area of Sibu are in lockdown.

Uggah is concerned about the security breach as the Pasai cluster is turning out to be the state’s deadliest, claiming three more lives today.

He slammed those who sneaked out as being “irresponsible” to their family, friends and the general public as they could spread the virus that has killed nine people and infected 1,582 in the state, as of noon today.

More than 16,000 people linked to the cluster have been screened for the virus, and 1,288 are awaiting their results. 

“Please. Don’t ever think you will never be infected. Nobody is invincible.”

To boost security,  Uggah said community leaders have been ordered to attend the community policing courses so that they could “play their role effectively”. – January 26, 2021.