KOTA KINABALU – Two Sabah DAP leaders have lambasted the chief minister’s directive to allow dine-ins before ironing out the standard operating procedures (SOPs), calling it a communications disaster by the state government.
Sabah DAP Youth chief Phoong Jin Zhe said the confusion would have occurred if the state government had prepared the movement control order (MCO) SOPs before relaxing the dine-in ban.
He added that he has received complaints from coffee-shop operators and hawkers after health enforcement officers told them to uphold the dine-in ban.
A message was also widely shared alleging a shop operator in Damai Plaza near here had been fined by health authorities for violating certain permits.
Kota Kinabalu City Hall here and the state Health Department did not respond to questions on the matter.
Phoong said while he is aware of the viral message, he did not know about the compound.
“It will still be a problem if the state government issues statements just like that without issuing the SOPs.
“(The Sabah government) is providing room for rumours to spread.”
Meanwhile, DAP’s Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin posted on Facebook that health authorities had visited areas in Lido, Lintas, Foh Sang and Damai to caution patrons against dining in.
“I have received complaints from coffee-shop operators and hawkers near Damai, Lintas and Foh Sang, saying that they were warned by Health Ministry enforcement officers not to set up tables for dine-ins or they will risk being fined as the SOPs are not ready.
“I find the actions of such enforcement officers high-handed.
“The Sabah chief minister had made his announcement, expressly allowing dine-ins from today onwards,” said Chan, adding that Health Ministry officials should exercise discretion and not be so quick to punish.
The Vibes has learnt that the state government is in the midst of finalising the SOPs, while a source confirmed that dine-ins are allowed but that the details are “misconstrued”.
After shops here were told to prohibit dine-ins, outlets in other districts, such as Penampang and Putatan, followed suit.
Confusion arose following claims that eateries had been fined for allowing diners to eat in the premises, forcing eateries in Foh Sang, Damai and Lintas to stop their dine-in service.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor had yesterday said dine-ins are allowed starting today, and that SOPs covering the matter will be released soon.
The state Local Government and Housing Ministry later said any changes in the dine-in SOPs will be published today or tomorrow. – The Vibes, June 29, 2021
