Migrant workers need to be tested, Kho Teck Wan

suppadmin | June 11, 2020

SUPP Woman’s chief, Kho Teck Wan calls for caution on migrant workers infected with covid-19 as an Indonesian worker was tested positive.

“I am glad to see that swift action was taken by the Ministry of Health, police and sarawak disaster management committee yesterday where a surprise operation was carried out at the construction site where the positive COVID19 cases were detected. I was informed that the operation involved a large number of enforcement and health officers to ensure no construction workers escaped the site while assessment and COVID19 tests were done on them, ” she said. .

She is worried that local transmission of the covid 19 virus among foreign workers may mirror what is happening now in Singapore and West Malaysia if no immediate action is taken to stop the chain.

Now that, she said there is a confirmed foreign workers cluster, the employees of the nearby shops frequented by foreign workers of the specific construction sites identified may need to monitor their health extra carefully and have COVID19 assessment done should they show any symptom of infection.

Unlike Singapore and West Malaysia, Kho added, where most foreign workers are confined to the hostels or detention centers, Sarawak’s foreign workers stay amongst local Sarawakian at the residential areas and shophouses, which make containment effort more difficult. Case and point, the 2 foreign construction workers who tested positive work at different construction sites and stayed in different neighbourhoods, but had close contact. They therefore had contacted more people in more communities than those who stayed in confined hostels. I therefore advise all Sarawakian to stay vigilant, continue to practice strict hygiene and social distancing.

“I support Deputy CM Douglas Uggah that those employers and companies which import illegal foreign workers be punished heavily. I would like to suggest that all costs incurred treating the illegal worker should be borne by the company.Employers of all fields should ensure their workers including foreign workers with smart phones install COVIDTrace, MySejahtera and QMunity mobile applications.As we enter the Recovery Movement Control Order, I urge the public to play their role and report any violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to the police immediately. Together we take care of our families, friends and Sarawak. Together we can prevent the 2nd wave, ” she added.