KOTA KINABALU – The International Trade and Industries Ministry (Miti) has been urged to allow its offices in Sabah to decide on the approvals to alleviate confusion among applicants.
Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, who is also former Miti minister, said this after the ministry was bombarded by complaints its Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) 3.0 system kept on crashing due to heavy traffic.
Industries need Miti approval letters to operate during the lockdown but the issues with the system and approvals have left many fuming.
“It is incumbent for the state government that understands better the situation in Sabah to argue for the Sabah SMEs and manufacturers in the state particularly those considered to be ‘essential sectors’ such as food production industries and other ‘essential services’ to get automatic approvals for them.
“I am certain that the many SMEs and manufacturers in Sabah would already have forwarded their grievances possibly through their respective chambers of commerce or associations to the chief minister and the state government who should have the power and authority to discuss with the federal government. However, the question now is, has the state government done the necessary actions?” said Leiking.
He said there were reports that even Sabahan bakery employees cannot go to work after not being able to produce Miti approvals at police roadblocks.
Leiking added that decentralising the approval powers to Sabah Miti and the state government would be more efficient.
“To make it even more efficient, decentralise the decision making. Sabah Miti and the state government should rope in the chambers of commerce or associations in identifying who are eligible to get the approval.
“The ministry should firstly decentralise its powers so we can expedite the application process, say one day and more, since I am certain that the federal level would not know the exact Covid-19 situation in Sabah.
“It may inadvertently approve applications coming from an area that is experiencing rising cases or designated as red zones,” he said.
He also said that Sarawak’s decision not to follow suit with the total lockdown shows that Sabah government can decide unilaterally what course of action it should take.
“After all, Sabah and Sarawak may differ with the federal government in terms of policies, hence all the more reasons for decentralisation.” – The Vibes, June 3, 2021
