Azlan Othman

Miri has seen a drop in the number of visitors from Brunei, especially over the weekend, following the Covid-19 virus which has affected many countries.

Recreational spots and seaside resorts in the city are seeing a drastic drop in the number of cross-border visitors from Brunei, Malaysian newspapers reported.

Frequent traveller Ling Sie Ting – who works in Brunei and travels to Miri every week – said a lot of Bruneians are concerned about the Covid-19 coronavirus.

“The immigration checkpoint at Sungai Tujoh Control Post is usually packed on Friday which is a weekend in Brunei. Bruneians and Malaysians working in Brunei would have to wait in queues that can last two hours, but I passed through in 10 minutes recently,” he said.

Meanwhile, a check with beach resorts found that bookings from Bruneians had dropped by about half compared to before.

Additionally, a check of beaches and resorts found that very few Brunei-registered vehicles were present and only a few children were seen playing at Tanjong beach in Miri.

Meanwhile the Sarawak Health Department will make available additional thermal scanners at the Kuching International Airport, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri airports and Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Sungai Tujoh.

Sarawak has made preparations to combat any possible spread of the novel coronavirus now known as the Covid-19 disease.

Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the state has its facilities, strategies, logistics, doctors, nurses and other health workers in place.