State Assemblyman, Lo Khere Chiang on how he cope as a YB in the midst of the pandemic

suppadmin | December 8, 2021

The two-years pandemic has changed the lives of everyone all over the world. As people struggled to survive, a total of 5.1 million people have succumbed to the virus.

In Malaysia, a total of 2.5 million people have been infected with over 30,000 deaths. Closer home to Sarawak, the figures have been in four digit months ago with no sign of abating yet.

As people try to adapt to the new norm of mandatory wearing masks while outside the house, there are endless other Standard operating procedures to follow.

Utusan Sarawak met up with State Assemblyman, Lo Khere Chiang to find out how he has been cooping the last two years and how he serves his constituency while being forced to stay home during the Movement control order.

Lo, who is also the Padawan Municipal council chairman, was surprisingly taking things in his stride. Being branded a covid carrier in Facebook and having his photograph taken by netigens for not wearing a mask last March, Lo said he has not been caught without a mask anymore as he has adapted well to the new norms.

He explained that early last year, he parked his car near a grocery shop to take a tray of eggs which was already booked. He said he walked a few paces from his car to the shop to take the eggs and go but someone saw it, took his photos and uploaded them to a website. As it was in early days of covid 19, normally those who were not wearing masks were let off with a stern warning. Lo said he has never forgotten his mask since then.

“It has been almost two years already. We have seen how the Western and China handle it. There is too little we know about this disease but there is no point to hide behind closed doors. We have done what we can do despite it causing a devastating impact on our economy. The number of companies closed, the people losing their jobs. I feel that we have to embrace the situation as best as we can,” he said.

Lo said from what he understands so far, the virus has a terrible effect on some while for some, mostly younger generation, they sail through it with no or minor side effects. “One thing for sure, we must be healthy. That way, our body’s immune system can fight the virus naturally. I came across a friend who was so well one minute and a week later, I heard he was in the ICU with a ventilator. It is indeed scary,” he said.

Although he is still not sure of why, Lo said this national phenomenon reminds him of Charles Darwin theory. Survival for the fittest. He said it is sad that he had lost friends due to covid.

Thus, he said, it is so important for everyone to be responsible for their own well being and those around them.

Lo himself had gone for a swab test three times after he came in close contact with positive cases. Being a people representative, he has no choice but to work with people daily. Lo said there are people who said despite following SOP, they were still infected. “But, is it not better to follow SOP to safeguard yourself first than taking risks?” he asked.

Lo added that in the past, he was often down with flu but during the last two years, with covid 19, he has to wear his mask whenever he goes out and so far, he did not suffer from any bout of flu.

On his part, he said, he still goes around daily. Even last March when covid 19 was something very new to us, I still went out to do my work. He said even when there were kampungs which were placed under lockdown, I was there distributing foodstuff and necessity to the kampung folks. Where were all those people who talk so much now that the election is around,” said Lo.

He remembered going to Kampung Haji Baki where many people were fearful of going but Lo said he soldiered on. Even a doctor who was there to assist to do a swab test reminded him to be extra careful as they were in the red zone. “I do feel a bit fearful but I told myself, the people in Kampung Baki are more fearful than me so it is my job to give them what they need and assure them through social media to hang in there,” he said.

During March and April last year, Lo said like most obedient citizens, he stayed home during the State’s lockdown but he still did a lot of zoom meetings and calls to his constituency and community leaders. As we are not allowed to go out, I try to work from home. It is tough but we need to follow the SOP issued by Sarawak Disaster Management committee (SDMC).

Lo said he takes extra precaution nowadays, at times wearing double masks and making sure that he washes his hands or uses hand sanitizer after every function. Having to do that, he said, he needs to protect his family and his elderly mother.

Although many people prefer not to come in contact with people during this time, Lo said he did not want such restriction. “To me, more people need my help and there is still a lot of council work that can only be done through physical meetings. So, I make sure that before they meet me, they do the necessary SOP and on my part, I make sure that we keep a social distance, even meeting my own staff in MPP,” he explained.

Lo said he was at first frustrated with the high percentage of people being quarantined. “With over 50 percent of people not working or working from home, it did slow down the council work. Later, we came up with a system that only the department that was positive will be closed down and sanitized and those who did not come into contact with the positive have to come to work,” he said.

Covid 19, Lo reckoned, is here to stay. It is not going away next year or the year after. Of course, the situation is getting better and we will have an election soon. We must continue on with our lives as normal as possible. Just follow SOP and wear masks at all times when outside. I understand in our weather, it is uncomfortable and hot but for the sake of breaking the chain of covid, we have to do it,: he cautioned.

Lo expressed gladness that the majority of the people believed in vaccination in Sarawak and many are going for boosters now. This, he said, is good as people will be more daring to come out to vote during elections. However, he cautioned that no one should let their guards down. Just learn to live with it and accept it, that way, life will be less stressful.