KOTA KINABALU – Those in the economic, industrial and business sectors are not required to apply for approval from the State Disaster Management Committee to operate during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period.
Seeking to clarify the green light given by the state government for these sectors to operate since Wednesday, State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun acknowledged the public’s confusion over the issue.
He said the state government had received many inquiries from the public because there was confusion, especially about permission to operate all sectors of the economy, industry and business.
"This confusion arose because the CMCO SOP issued for districts in the red zone previously only allowed essential services to operate,” he said in a statement released on Thursday.
“I wish to clarify that the SOPs being implemented statewide now are based on the new regulations issued by the National Security Council dated October 14.”
Masidi, who is also the state government’s official Covid-19 committee spokesman, said the previous SOPs were no longer in use, except in the 10 localities currently under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO).
“Hence, operators or traders in the economic, industrial and business sectors do not need to apply to the state Covid-19 committee for permission to operate.”
He added that in line with the statewide CMCO implemented since October 13, all CMCO instructions previously involving the 11 districts are automatically cancelled.
However, he said certain activities are not allowed during the statewide CMCO, which will be enforced until Oct 26.
These are night markets (pasar malam), agriculture markets (pasar tani) and tamu (weekly markets), nightclubs, pubs, cinemas and gambling outlets and massage parlours or reflexology centres, as well as facial, manicure and pedicure centres.
Masidi advised the public to visit the state Covid-19 committee website at command.sabah.gov.my or its Facebook page, as well as its Twitter page for the latest information or any enquiries.
He said the public may also direct their questions directly to the state disaster control operations centre at its 24-hour line, Tel 088-369434. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020
