KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has expressed shock and concern over the surge in Covid-19 cases in Sabah where it recorded an all-time high of 2,413 infections on Wednesday, an increase from 2,103 from the day before.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh thus hopes both the state government and the people of Sabah could strive to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections, by expediting vaccination and to strictly comply with the government-issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
He also expressed concern that currently hospital beds’ occupancy rate in the state has reached 99.05%. He hopes the federal government could quickly beef up support for the state, by boosting its existing medical facilities, as well as sending more medical staff to Sabah, so as to better deal with the situation.
“Currently, Sabah remains the state with the lowest vaccination rate in the country. Although as of Wednesday 48.4% of its adult population has been vaccinated with the first dose of vaccine, only 24.7% has completed two doses. This has to be boosted,” he said.
He further noted that, in the past one week, Sabah has recorded an average of close to 20,000 cases daily, which means out of 10,000 people 46.95 persons were infected. Under such a depressing situation, it is therefore crucial for the people of Sabah to continue to maintain a high alert in fighting the pandemic.
Commenting on the worrisome Covid-19 situation in the state, Goh who is also President of the Sabah and Labuan Federation of Hokkien Associations (SLFHA) also called on business sector in the state to actively sign up for the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme. (Pikas) to get their employees vaccinated. This is so that Sabah, which is currently in the 2nd phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), could further lift restrictions to allow for more businesses to resume operations.
He urged this while handing over some essential supplies to the Peak Nam Toong Temple which were received by its chairman, Lee Hing Boo. The distribution of essential supplies was part of FCAS’s ongoing community outreach programmes in aid of those who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) cum a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) also hoped that the state government could continue to provide necessary assistance to the needy and underprivileged group in the state, to help them to better cope with the onslaught of the pandemic.
Also present at the occasion were FCAS’s vice chairmen, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt and Lim Vun Chan, Treasurer-general Datuk Yong Soo Pin, and its Treasurer-general David Chan and his deputy, Chen Ee Sheng.-pr/BNN
