SARAWAK will not to follow Putrajaya in restarting industries from Monday, said Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah.

He said the state will maintain the status quo on directives and standard operating procedures (SOP) it has given to industries and businesses approved to operate under the first, second and third phases of the movement control order (MCO). 

He said state industries and businesses that have received International Trade and Industry Ministry approval to resume operations from Monday are also required to get the state government’s approval. 

Applications have to be made through the state Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), he added.

Uggah, who chairs the committee, said the industry or business cannot restart operations until their application is approved. 

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

“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 a final decision would only be made after the committee has studied changes in Act 342 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

“The SDMC must ensure that the reopening of economic activities and sectors suits Sarawak’s circumstances.

“Taking into account Sarawak’s local situation in terms of Covid-19 cases, logistic capability, the capacity of the Health Department and its geographical circumstances, the SDMC has found that many of the standards of compliance for the reopening of economic activities are not conducive to the state.”

Sarawak will, however, announce the reopening of economic activities and other sectors in stages.

“This will be done after every minute detail of the SOP and guidelines are studied.”

Muhyiddin had yesterday announced that the government will allow more economic sectors to reopen during the MCO under certain conditions.

Trades and businesses that allow close contact will remain shuttered, including Ramadan bazaars, while interstate travel remains prohibited.

Restaurants will also be allowed to open but schools will stay closed.

Uggah had earlier said Sarawak would only reopen its economy when the lives of its people are no longer under threat from the Covid-19 virus.

The viral infection had killed 17 people and infected 518 in the state since the first case was detected on March 13.

The state today detected nine more infections – three in the Bau district and two each in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian. 

Sarawak is also carrying out active case detection in three residential areas – two in Samarahan and one in Kuching – to trace those who have come into contact with infected people.

Kuching and Samarahan are the state’s two pandemic red zones. – May 2, 2020.