Sarawak awaiting Health Ministry’s directive following increase in Covid-19 cases

Uggah (centre) accompanied by his wife Doreen (right) conversing with JOT landowners.

DEBAK, Dec 18: Sarawak is still waiting for the directive from the Ministry of Health (MoH) on actions to be taken amidst the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, says Deputy Sarawak Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Uggah who is also chairman of Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) noted that the increase in Covid-19 cases is very worrying.

“However, we have to wait for the directive including if we need to organise the third vaccination.

“In the meantime, my advice is for the people to continue to take care of themselves. Consult a doctor if you develop a fever, cough and sore throat.

“Do not hesitate to self-quarantine yourself if you test positive, always wear a mask in any crowded or enclosed space, and always wash your hands,” he told reporters after a function at Rh Layang in Nanga Lop near here today.

On a separate matter, Uggah urged the Jobilee Occupation Ticket (JOT) land title holders to agree to the exercise to convert their land into native customary rights (NCR) land.

The JOT is pre-Sarawak Land Code’s land title and issued during the colonial government to those who agreed to plant rubber. For every one acre or 200 rubber trees planted, a JOT would be issued and this was very prevalent in Sri Aman and Betong areas back then.

“Upon the expiry of its tenure, such land would be considered State land.

“However, our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been very sympathetic to the landowners so he had consented for the land status to be changed into NCR land through an exercise to be handled by the Land and Survey Department.

“Therefore, those owners concerned can approach any Land and Survey Department offices for assistance and the necessary action,” he explained.

At the same time, Uggah disclosed that the government has agreed to allocate a sum of RM30 million to upgrade the Ulu Rimbas Road here.

The road is about 22 kilometers long and the upgrade will benefit about 2,000 oil palm, rice and rubber farmers from 20 longhouses.

Uggah was joined by his wife Dato Doreen Mayang, a political secretary to the Premier Roseline Mapong, Betong Land and Survey Department Superintendent Morris Nayup and Betong Public Works Department (JKR) engineer Jason Ng at the function. — DayakDaily