Armed Forces helping police man roadblocks in Sibu

Several territorial armies helping police at a roadblock in Sibu.

SIBU: The Armed Forces has sent six officers and 120 volunteers to help front-liners in Sibu in the fight against Covid-19, and they will be in the area until Feb 14.

Third Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Dato Azhar Ahmad said in a statement that the group from Regiment 511 of the Territorial Army from Kuching Ria Camp arrived at the Rajang Security Area Command (Rascom) camp on Feb 4 where they were received by 9th Brigade Infantry Chief of Staff Lt Kol Anuar Ahmad.

They were given a briefing by Lt Kol Annuar on Ops Penawar and were also told to maintain a high standard of discipline, including abiding by the SOP.

"They were dispatched to different roadblocks in the Sibu division. Their presence is to help the state government curb the spread of Covid-19," he said.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had on Feb 6 called for more enforcement, especially at longhouses under movement restriction as some residents had been sneaking out using hidden routes.

A total of 58 longhouses in the Sibu district are under movement restriction following the spike in cases from the Pasai Cluster.

The cluster started on Jan 8, when a total of 37 Covid-19 cases were recorded at Rumah Langi Ambau, Pasai Siong here.

They were infected by a woman who came back from Johor to attend her father's funeral.

As at Feb 6, the number of infections from the Pasai Cluster stands at 2,288 cases from 97 longhouses, including those from other districts.

26 patients in Sibu have died from Covid-19 so far.