SARAWAK does not have to follow the procedures set by Putrajaya to curb Covid-19 infections, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said today.

He said the state health rules already mirored federal directives, he added.

“We have our own ordinance (in handling infectious diseases). Putrajaya understands that,” he told the media today.

He was asked to comment on Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement earlier today that all state governments must refer to the decisions of the Special Ministers’ meeting on movement restrictions before implementing movement controls in their respective states.

Ugggah said in most cases, the Sarawak’s SOPs in Sarawak are in line with the federal government’s.

The only difference is that the state tailored its SOPs to suit local conditions.

“They (Putrajaya) understood that and gave us leeway.”

Ismail Sabri didn’t name any states that had yet to allow certain businesses and social activities to reopen.

Uggah, who also chairs the state disaster management committee, said the state government will bear all quarantine costs for Sarawakians returning from overseas.

The costs covers isolation in a hotel for 14 days, and two rounds of Covid-19 testing, on the second day after arrival and again on the 10th day.

Sarawak, however, will not bear the costs for other Malaysians, whether from the peninsula, Sabah or Labuan, when they are quarantined in the state.

They have to foot their own bill since Putrajaya will also not pick up the cost, he said. – August 18, 2020.