The organisation of the three-day WOWCUTI programme beginning April 27 till 29 was an initiative to revive the state tourism industry.
Organised by WOWCUTI, the programme was supported by Tourism Malaysia Northern Region (TMWU), involving 25 tourism industry players from Pulau Pinang, Kedah and Perlis to Perak. It caught the attention of many after a bus driver involved was confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.
Executive Councillor for Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Dato’ Nolee Ashilin binti Dato’ Mohammed Radzi stated that the programme, via the tourism agency under the guideline of Travel Bubble, had obtained permit approval for interstate travels from the police for official matters.
“According to the statement, the bus driver who transported the programme’s participants was found COVID-19 positive when undergoing a swab test at Kampar Health Clinic on April 29 for his next duty where he was scheduled to transport another group of participants to Genting Highlands.
The early detection caused all participants involved in the programme to be contacted by the Ministry Of Health (KKM) to undergo COVID-19 swab tests.
“All participants of the programme are found negative after screening and are instructed to undergo the quarantine procedure at Ulu Kinta beginning April 29 till May 8, as well as to undergo a second swab test on May 6,” she said in an official statement from the Tourism Perak Management today (May 4).
Nolee also expressed her empathy as several agencies and media practitioners of the state were also ordered to undergo swab tests on May 2 and to begin home quarantine on the same day till May 7.
It is understood that all agencies and media of Perak were present in a breaking of fast event and media conference at The Haven All Suite Resort, Ipoh on April 27 which led to them being close contacts to participants of TMWU.
“The state government expresses regret over the incident and will monitor the adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) seriously for organisation of future events, especially those organised by the state government.
Rosli Mansor
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