KOTA KINABALU – Sabah has decided to allow journalists to carry out their duties without a designated time frame during the total lockdown.
The Sabah Disaster Management Committee had on Monday permitted news coverage for online and print media only between 7am to 7pm.
“The role of the mass media is important to assist the government in spreading the right and latest news to the people,” said state Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun yesterday.
“Therefore, the state government today (yesterday) has approved that all mass media agencies are allowed to operate… following their own needs.
“The approval was made in view that media practitioners adhere to standard operating procedures.”
The turnabout comes amid calls by local journalists for the state government to remove the news coverage time limit for the duration of the movement control order from June 1 until June 14.
Sabah Journalist Associaton president Datuk Muguntan Vanar thanked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor and Masidi for lifting the restriction.
“The removal of the 12-hour (7am to 7pm) working hours is the right step for the media.” – The Vibes, June 2, 2021
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