SANDAKAN – The new conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Sabah has caused confusion in the six districts that are already under restrictions.
Since October 7, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan have been under CMCO, and Sandakan, Papar and Tuaran followed two days later.
Defence Minister later placed the entire Sabah under CMCO beginning October 13, except for localities under targeted MCO in Semporna (six areas), Lahad Datu (two areas), Tawau and Kunak (one each).
All business sectors, other than essential services were previously not allowed to open, but the new CMCO SOPs say otherwise.
Sabah’s Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun yesterday said economic, industrial and business activities in the state, except for those specifically banned, are now allowed to operate during CMCO.
The same set of instructions was posted on the Sabah National Defence Council’s Facebook page.
This has created confusion among Sabahans over the CMCO SOPs.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong said she is perplexed at the confusing instructions sent out by the government.
“At 6pm yesterday, the Health director-general pleaded with us to stay at home as Covid-19 cases in Sabah remain very high, especially in Sandakan.
“But hours later, I read from social media that the state government decided to allow all economic, industrial, and business activities during CMCO, as long as they comply with the SOP issued by the National Security Council.
“On one hand, we are telling the public to stay at home. At the same time, we are allowing all sectors to resume operations.
“What if the Covid-19 cases in Sabah continue to rise in the next few days? Is the government going to make another U-turn and stop all activities again?
“It shows that what the government is doing is on an ad hoc basis without a clear strategy to manage the current situation.
“Impromptu and flip-flop decisions will lead us nowhere. In times of a pandemic, the government should not make things more difficult for the people.” – The Vibes, October 15, 2020
