Siti Hajar (right, in red), her husband Mohd Razmie Razali, 32, and children getting their temperature checked at Komtar.
EFFECTIVE from this week onwards, temperature checks will be carried out for all visitors to the state administrative offices in Komtar as a precautionary measure against the spread of the Covid-19.
Officers are stationed on the ground floor, levels two and three of the building from 7am to 5.30pm to carry out this screening measure.
Housewife Siti Hajar Yusof, 27, who was visiting Komtar to check on her housing loan, was happy with the steps taken to screen the visitors.
“I do not know much about the virus, but it is great that they are taking such a precautionary measure.
“If someone is detected with a slight fever, they won’t be allowed to go into the building.
“As a mother of two young children who are here with me, I appreciate the effort to keep us safe,” she said.
Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng said the checks would be carried out every day during weekdays until further notice.
A Buletin Mutiara pic showing Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow getting his temperature checked.
“There are four checkpoints, two here on level three where officers will check the temperature of everyone who enters the government offices.
“There is another checkpoint at the VIP car park and on the first floor.
“Komtar is the first government building here to have this screening test.
“If needed, the State Secretary’s office will direct other state agencies outside of Komtar to carry out similar checks as well,” he said when met at Komtar on Monday.
Teh said the officers in charge used a temperature scanner and if they detected a temperature of 37.5°C or higher, the person would not be allowed to enter the premises.
A long queue of visitors and civil servants waiting to be screened at level three of Komtar.
Penang Island City Council senior security officer Paramjeet Singh, who was stationed at the main entrance, said they expected to screen about 3,000 people, including government servants, daily.
“We will be here throughout the day. If we detect anyone running a fever, we will take down the person’s details, including their address and contact numbers.
“The list will be given to the state health department to follow up.
“If the persons are government servants, they will be told to get themselves checked at the hospital or clinic, and produce a medical certificate (MC).
Security officers conducting temperature checks on employees based at Komtar as well as visitors at level three of the building in front of the entrance to the Penang Island City Council.
“We will also do the same if the persons have cough, even if they do not have a fever,” he said.
Paramjeet Singh said each checkpoint would have about four officers on duty.
