SANDAKAN – The absence of any standard operating procedures (SOPs) on dine-ins in Sabah has not stopped Sandakan Municipal Council president Wong Foo Tin from going ahead and allowing it in the district.
Wong said since June 29, restaurants and eateries have been allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm, with dine-ins at 50% capacity.
He said that he is only adhering to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor’s announcement on June 28 that dine-ins will be allowed beginning June 29.
However, Wong’s decision may have caused more drama in the Sabah dine-in fiasco as it goes against Sabah official Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun’s statement that Sabah’s directive to allow dine-ins is subject to the approval of Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Masidi’s statement came a day after confusion in Sabah that saw many restaurants open for dine-ins, only to be told to wait for the new SOPs that had yet to be announced.
That same day, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob chided Sabah for going against existing federal directives, inviting criticism from the opposition in the state government for not standing firm on its decision over health matters in Sabah.
Most restaurants in Sandakan had also opened their doors to dine-ins on June 29, but have since stopped doing so due to the confusing developments. – The Vibes, July 3, 2021
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