Tensions rise in Nabawan as Health Ministry staff threatened over Covid-19 outbreak

 By Olivia Miwil - March 2, 2021 @ 9:35pm

Screenshots of Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Nabawan Facebook Page, indicating that they are being threatened by the public over the increase number of Covid-19 cases at the locality. - Pic courtesy of NST reader

NABAWAN: The Nabawan district in Sabah, currently the hotbed of a new Covid-19 cluster, has seen tensions rising within the community as a result of the increased number of cases.

It is understood that Health Ministry officers in the district have come under threat from disgruntled individuals who are unhappy with the Covid-19 situation affecting the district and have decided to take out their frustrations on medical personnel.

The Nabawan Health Office, via its official Facebook page today, said it had been subjected to threats.

Though it did not specify the nature of the threats, it said it would not hesitate to take legal action.

"The Nabawan District Health Office views seriously any threats made against any of our officers. We will take legal action against those who commit such acts," read the posting.

The health office also stated that its staff had worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of the people.

"We have never asked for any respect, only cooperation and awareness from people to contain the infection in Nabawan."

The post has since gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, former Nabawan assemblyman Datuk Bobbey Suan called for calm amid the heightened tension.

He urged the people to let healthcare personnel do their jobs in managing the pandemic.

He said the authorities had already established that the Sinsingon cluster in the district had spawned from a mass gathering during a funeral and the infection subsequently spread.

"We should let the authorities, especially Health Ministry personnel and other frontliners, do their duty. We have to give our full cooperation to them.

"Since the spread of the pandemic early this year, they (frontliners) have been working tirelessly. We should appreciate and honour their sacrifices," he told the New Straits Times, adding that the public should not belittle the healthcare personnel.

Nabawan has been placed under Movement Control Order (MCO) from tomorrow until March 16 after almost 200 Covid-19 cases were detected from 15 villages here.

The Sinsingon cluster has also spread to Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu.

When contacted, Keningau police chief Deputy Superintendent Shahrudin Mat Husain said they have yet to receive any police report over the threats.

"Until now, there have been no police reports made. From our side, we have advised them (district health office) to do so."