Michael Tiang explains PCR testings

suppadmin | March 27, 2020

A very much needed PCR testings capacity for Covid-19 which will help to increased from the current 200 tests per day to 2000 tests in a day to race against time to fight covid-19 disease in Sarawak, said Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Michael Tiang.

Tiang said this was made possible after efforts from discussions and consultations had been conducted with the participation of Sarawak, Hospital Director, Dr. Ngien, SGH Chief Pathologist Dr. Jaqueline Wong, UNIMAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi as well as UNIMAS Institute of Health and Community Medicine Director Prof. David Perera to work out actionable plans to achieve the above goal, said P

Tiang said this in response to the press statement released by Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) earlier which alleged that the Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian had been giving the public misleading information about the two institutes for medical research (IMR) laboratories for Covid-19 will be able to increase their PCR testing capacity from 200 tests per day to 2000 tests.

Tiang explained that it requires war time efforts from the Sarawak Government to combat Covid-19 pool thus all relevant resources from different departments and institutions pool their resources tigetger. This is no longer an individual stress or burden on a single institution particularly general hospitals.

He said the state government took the initiative to assist the federal government in combating Covid-19 by spending RM1.3 million to purchase 20,000 PCR test reagents.

“In order to increase the PCR test capacity, Sarawak Government has also pulled manpower from Sarawak Veterinary Department, Sarawak Forestry Department and other universities which consists of experienced personnel in operating PCR tests.

Besides both Forestry Department and Veterinary Department also provided relevant medical machines to assist this State’s effort. The State will soon establish similar PCR testing centres in both Sibu and Miri, ” he pointed out.

Tiang reckoned this is a critical time for all Sarawakians to stand together to ensure we could overcome this epidemic by supporting our front liners as well as doing our own part by staying at home. It is about our people racing with time in saving more lives, not spending time for any politicking.

He expressed his deepest disappointment to see a newly formed political party like Parti Sarawak Bersatu not showing any quality leadership in guiding Sarawakians in this very critical time of war against covid-19 but, instead the Party chose to resort to publicity stunts by making unfounded allegations against a Minister as well as the tireless efforts put up by the front liners team who were working together with him.