KOTA KINABALU – Sabah has recorded a total of 31,887 recoveries (92.5%) of its cumulative 34,478 Covid-19 cases in the state, from March to December 20.
State local government and housing minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said Sabah anticipates the preparation for the recovery phase to be in early 2021.
Yet, he said, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for domestic tourism, industry, entertainment and public transport have been eased under the extended conditional movement control order until December 31.
On aid, Masidi said 2.14 million people have benefited from the assistance given by state and federal governments.
He added that RM140.32 million of the RM160 million state allocation and RM14.04 million of the RM50 million federal allocation have been spent so far to curb Covid-19 in Sabah.
“The state government had also received assistance from civil society groups, such as 27,067 food baskets, 1.2 million medical kits and protective gears, and RM6.76 million for the Covid-19 disaster fund,” he said during the question and answer session at the Sabah legislative assembly here today.
Between October and December 20, Masidi said the government had spent RM39.62 million on food baskets and a total of 301,327 food baskets had been distributed so far.
He said RM100.92 million had been spent to provide a one-off RM300 cash aid to 336,428 recipients in agriculture, transport and business.
Masidi added that RM1 million has been allocated to assist 2,574 students in private and public higher learning institutions, tahfiz and Islamic schools.
“A three-month rental exemption over the period of October until December is given to stall operators.
“The exemption applies to 20,588 stall operators and 20,268 people’s housing projects’ renters.”
Masidi said a one-off RM1,000 cash aid was also extended to micro-entrepreneurs and cottage industries and as of December 19, this year, RM1.37 million had been distributed to 1,369 entrepreneurs.
He added that a one-off additional cash aid of RM4,000 was given to 500 travel and tours companies, involving RM2 million.
“As of December 19, 100 companies received the aid, which saw RM400,000 being disbursed.” – The Vibes, December 21, 2020
