SARAWAK Deputy Chief Minister James Masing has shot down a Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) suggestion to allow more private clinics and hospitals to perform Covid-19 screening for foreign workers.

Sheda Kuching chairman Sim Kiang Chiok, in forwarding the suggestion to ease the backlog on the one-and-only private test laboratory in Kuching, said “tens of thousands” of foreign workers in the state are now overwhelming the lab appointed by the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Sim said some 12,000 workers are queuing to get screened at the lab.

He also said the “incapacitated” lab had run out of test kits and there is no confirmation when the new batch would arrive.

All these, he said, is slowing the reopening of industries.

Masing, who is also the state’s Minister of Infrastructure Development, said past incidence had made him wary of opening the screening to private clinics and hospitals.

He said there have been incidences in the past where the private sector paid “unscrupulous medical practitioners” to issue fake health certificates for foreign workers.

“The use of private clinics must not be opened for all and appointment of clinics must be done in a strict manner and by merits,” he added.

Masing said he will also not compromise on the prescribed standard operating procedure (SOP) that testing of foreign workers must be carried out before they are allowed to start work.

“Although it will take some time for all workers to be tested, it is better to be strict and safe rather than to rush and risk.”

Masing said the requirement that contractors and employers of the foreign workers be liable for all medical, sanitisation and other costs in the event their workers are infected with Covid-19 was only fair because they are accountable for the sites they manage.

“If (the) contractors are confident enough to commence work, they should also be ready to take into account of the risk that their workers might be infected with Covid-19.

“If the contractors are not confident or ready to be liable, then please do not resume operations.

“With the presence of Covid 19, contractors should learn to adjust to the new norms.” – May 13, 2020.