GEORGE TOWN – As Penang’s tourism establishments open up to receive patrons and guests after suffering for months due to the pandemic lockdown, the authorities are giving an assurance that standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be strictly enforced on participating premises.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said he is satisfied with SOP arrangements at local hotels, and travellers can be assured that they are safe staying there as long as they adhere to the rules.
“I am satisfied with the arrangements at the hotel after my site visits, as the hotels’ management has made it SOP-compliant and it is safe for the patrons to stay.
“My discussion with the Malaysia Association of Hotel’s Penang chapter and local hotels’ managements show that they are committed to adhering to the SOPs set by the National Security Council.”
He said this after a recent visit to the Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at the Batu Ferringhi beach area here.
The hotel’s general manager, Elaine Yue, briefed him on the safety arrangements at the hotel.
Shuhaily said his visit was made in the wake of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement that local hotels will be allowed to open for operations.
“For the time being, only guests from within the state can stay at the hotels,” he said.
He noted that Rasa Sayang has been operating for the last 49 years and is one of the oldest iconic hotels in the country.
The hotel’s director of communications Sulaiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said the occupancy rate is more than 40% currently and is expected to increase during the weekend.
He said police will not station personnel at the hotels.
“However, we are working with the relevant authorities, like the Penang Island City Council, Health Department, and Rela, to ensure that SOPs are followed by the hotel guests at all times.”
He said police personnel will be involved in manning roadblocks and monitoring public places of interest.
“When there is more movement of people, we need more personnel to monitor the situation with the coordination of other relevant authorities,” Shuhaily said.
He added that 108 police personnel are currently quarantined in the state. Of these, 62 are positive for Covid-19. – The Vibes, October 3, 2021
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