Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government is not implementing the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) that will allow the reopening of certain economic activities and sectors today (Monday) as announced by the Federal Government last Friday.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic) said the State Government would maintain with the enforcement of phase four of MCO, which ends on May 12.
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“I call on the people to continue to comply with phase four of MCO that is currently enforced,” he said in a statement, Sunday.
Last Friday (May 1), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the CMCO will be implemented beginning May 4, whereby almost all economic sectors and businesses would be allowed to reopen subject to strict conditions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew supports the decision of the Chief Minister that Sabah will maintain the status quo and not implement the CMCO.
Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, stressed that it is better to be safe than to risk the potential spread of Covid-19.
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“Essentially, the State Government’s health and safety concerns for Sabahans transcend other considerations.
“In this regard, I urge the public to continue observing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the existing Movement Control Order (MCO) that ends on May 12,” she said in a statement, Sunday.
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Meanwhile, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) also fully supports the State Government’s decision not to implement the CMCO.
Its President, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the State Government had made the right decision to ensure the efforts to contain further spread of Covid-19 do not go futile.
“Taking lessons from Japan’s Hokkaido Island, we sympathise with them for having to face the second wave after deciding to terminate the lockdown earlier.
“At the same time, we have to appreciate the sacrifices of health workers and other frontline workers who work tirelessly day and night to fight Covid-19,” said Tangau, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, in a statement, Sunday.
He said the State Government had from the very beginning prioritised people’s safety above all else.
“That is why Sabah was the first State to decide to cancel all flights from China in January, despite the fact that the influx of Chinese tourists into the country contributed to the high revenue in the tourism sector.
“At that time, Wuhan was identified as the site of the virus discovery and if the flight cancellation had not been taken, Sabah would have been far worse than we are today,” he said.
On another note, Tangau, who is also State Minister of Trade and Industry, said companies or entrepreneurs that had received permission to operate during the Movement Control Order (MCO) can still operate as usual.
“We understand that economic aspects are important to the people’s survival and development of the country.
“However, let the situation be completely safe and make sure no further cases of infection are recorded, as the same situation will be repeated if we make a mistake,” he added.
He also advised companies allowed to operate to comply with the Standard Operating Procedure.
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