Press Statement
28th February 2021

Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has decided that schools in Sarawak’s COVID-19 red zones will stay closed until March 14

This decision is no different than a slap to the Ministry of Education. Basically, the Sarawak State Government is saying, “I disagree with you.”

According to SDMC, the decision was made after discussions with the Sawarak Health Department and the Education Ministry.

MOE should therefore provide an explanation to the teachers and parents in Semenanjung and Sabah. If they think that schools are unsafe to be opened in red zones in Sarawak, why is it safe for us in the other parts of Malaysia?

On February 27, Sarawak recorded 255 new cases, 314 cases in Johor, 862 cases in Selangor, 305 cases in Perak, and 117 cases in Kuala Lumpur.

Total active cases in Sarawak as of yesterday were 2397 cases, Johor 2734 cases, Selangor 3002 cases, Perak 3626 cases, Kuala Lumpur 2911 cases .

Sarawak is currently under CMCO. However Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Penang are still under MCO. Aren’t these factors all indicators that the COVID-19 situation in Selangor, Johor etc is also very critical? So what are the factors used to decide that schools in Sarawak’s red zones stay closed until March 14, while schools in the red zones of other states can re-open? What are the measuring indicators utilised to arrive at a scientific and logical conclusion that it is indeed safe to re-open schools?

The Ministry of Education should convince all Malaysians that their decisions are made professionally, backed by proof and proper analysis, and that they have given equal consideration to the kids in red zones outside Sarawak.

Teo Nie Ching
MP for Kulai