KOTA KINABALU – Letters from employers and police permits will suffice to enable businesses of essential goods and services to continue operating in Sabah during the two-week lockdown.
Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said therefore, permit letters from the International Trade and Industries Ministry were not necessary.
Masidi, who is also the state’s local government and housing minister, said this is because the authority over essential goods and services falls under the jurisdiction of the state government and local authorities.
“The Sabah government has already taken early action in preparing the SOPs (standard operating procedures) and has clarified that operations of essential goods and services are allowed during MCO 3.0 (movement control order) from June 1 ending June 14.
“The state government via the Disaster Management Committee (DMC) for Covid-19 is responsible in preparing the Sabah SOPs before they are gazetted.
“At a meeting on June 2, the committee decided that there was no need for Miti permit letters allowing inter-district travel for those providing essential goods and services in the state.
“They only need to prepare the employer’s letter and inter-district travel permit from the police,” he said.
He stressed that there was a need to allow economic activities to continue to ensure community sustainability during the ongoing pandemic.
SOPs for the agriculture, food, factories, manufacturing, transportation, tourism and banking sectors have already been issued by the state’s ministries.
Meanwhile, private clinics have been allowed to administer vaccines with the opening up of more vaccination centres in the state this month.
This includes 20 private clinics which will be converted into vaccination centres in addition to the 24 hospitals, 28 government clinics and 24 non-health ministry facilities.
From July onwards, vaccination will be given to those providing essential goods and services including those working in factories, grocery stores and the transportation sector. – The Vibes, June 4, 2021
