SARAWAK Deputy Chief Minister James Masing has told the main contractor for the Baleh hydroelectric dam and state-owned power company, Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), they would be “held accountable” for all the illegal workers they employ who are infected with Covid-19.

The main contractor for dam is China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd (CGGC), a Chinese firm.

“I hope that those tested positive are legal workers. If by any chance some of those tested positive are illegal workers, then both SEB and CGGC must be made accountable and provide facilities for them to be quarantined on site,” Masing said as he reacted to the Covid-19 outbreak in Bukit Mabong district, where the 1,285MW dam is sited.

The dam site was placed under the enhanced movement control order from today until May 26 after 308 workers, out of 950 who were tested, were found to be positive.

Another 577 workers were found negative at the first round of testing and 65 still awaiting their results.

Today, 64 more new cases were reported, making the district the second most infectious district after Bintulu, which reported 81 new cases.

Masing said the outbreak is not only a failure to comply with the standard operating procedures drawn up by the state disaster management committee (SDMC) for construction site but also a threat to the health of rural longhouse dwellers in that part of the state.

“As I feared at the beginning of this pandemic last year, we must safeguard rural areas, especially longhouse dwellers,” he said.

“Their social culture of getting together is a petri dish for coronavirus to grow and spread.

“I (therefore) urge all GLCs (government-linked companies) and government departments to stringently abide by SOP spelt out by SDMC and the health department.”

The state reported 432 new cases and three deaths today.

The dead are a 54 year-old man from Bintulu, who died on Saturday; a 47-year-old woman, also from Bintulu; and a 44-year-old Sarikei woman.

Both the women died on Sunday. – April 27, 2021.