Sarawak to decide on SOPs for pubs, nightclubs soon, says Deputy Premier

KUCHING: Sarawak will decide soon on whether the recent standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pubs and nightclubs in Peninsular Malaysia are applicable in the state, says Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian (pic).

The Sarawak Deputy Premier said the state Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will have a meeting soon to discuss and decide on the matter.

He added that the committee always has the final say, especially on matters related to Covid-19 preventive measures in the state.

"We will look at the policy (SOPs) and see if it is suitable for us in Sarawak or not. SDMC has always been setting our own rules and policy, as not everything from Peninsular Malaysia is suitable for us.

"There will be a formal announcement soon,” Dr Sim, who is also SDMC advisor, told reporters after attending Sarawak’s Wesak day celebration here on Sunday (May 15).

On May 12, the Housing and Local Government Ministry issued the Licensed Pubs and Nightclub Operations Protocol guidelines.

The guidelines, among others, said patrons of licensed pubs and nightclubs will have to take a Covid-19 self-test within 24 hours before entering the premises beginning May 15.

If the customer does not perform the test, the premises can conduct an RTK-Ag (Antigen Rapid Test Kit) test on the customer and must ensure that the customer's Covid-19 test result is negative. - Bernama