KOTA KINABALU – Traffic congestion has eased in many parts of the city’s roads as local authorities restrict visits to public parks, and regular train service from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort was temporarily ceased in the first day of the second movement control order (MCO) in Sabah.
The implementation of the lockdown in Sabah and the proclamation of emergency rule has reduced the number of cars on Kota Kinabalu streets by half compared to regular working days.
Checks by The Vibes found road users enjoying open roads in places that are normally traffic hotspots like the Jalan Kolam flyover and the Inanam bypass roads.
According to Sabah Covid-19 secretariat chairman, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, the overall compliance of Sabah residents to MCO rules today was at 93.75%.
Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has closed all the town’s public parks, local government counters and bus terminals, and stopped imposition of coupon parking.
DBKK currently runs the upkeeps of the Likas Bay, Tun Fuad Stephens, Ujana Rimba Tropika, Tanjung Aru and the Petagas Memorial parks.
Kota Kinabalu mayor Noorliza Awang Alip instructed all companies operating at the north-bound Inanam bus terminal and KK Sentral to temporarily shut down.
The Sabah Railway Department also announced that all train services from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort will be stopped from January 14 till the end of the MCO on January 26.
However, limited train rides would be available, the department said today.
The Beaufort-Halogilat service will depart at 7.50am and 1.30pm, and Tenom-Rayoh service at 7.30am and 1pm, the department said.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced the imposition of the MCO for Sabah and also the implementation of emergency rule to end the spike of Covid-19 cases in the country.
However, essential services are allowed to operate, including hotels which are allowed to take-in guests, but restricting the use of the facilities like gym, saunas and other services that could risk infection.
Sabah today recorded 450 cases, taking the total number of cases in the state to 41,899 since the outbreak in March last year.
Data released from the state Covid-19 secretariat revealed no new clusters were found in the state, but three deaths were recorded. They involved patients in Tawau, Papar and Kudat. – The Vibes, January 13, 2020.
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