Sabah cops to propose quarantine for all those returning to state after Raya break

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali. - Filepic/The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police are proposing mandatory quarantine for those returning from other parts of the country after the school holidays and Hari Raya Aidilfitri break.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said apart from taking the Covid-19 swab tests, those who leave the state and return after the holidays should also be asked to undergo quarantine.

“We will have a discussion on this with other agencies and departments, ” he told a press conference here on Monday (May 10), adding that any updates to this proposal will be announced by state authorities.

On another matter, he said there had been an increase in traffic out of the city over the past two days ahead of the holidays.

“I hope those who come back to the city or those needing to return to where they come from have proper permits with acceptable reasons because if not, they will be asked to make a U-turn, ” Hazani said.

He said no one will be allowed to cross district borders (except for those in Penampang, Putatan and Kota Kinabalu, which are considered one zone) until the inter-district travel ban in Sabah is lifted as scheduled on May 16.

If the ban is lifted, Sabah will go back to the zoning mechanism whereby districts are grouped into zones and those who live within these districts can travel within the zones.

There are six zones.

Zone 1 consists of Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan and Papar; Zone 2 includes Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Sipitang; whereas Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas are in Zone 3.

Sandakan, Beluran, Kinabatangan and Tongod are in Zone 4; while Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Kalabakan are in Zone 5.

Zone 6 comprises Keningau, Tambunan and Tenom.

Hazani said although he understood the longing to meet up among families celebrating Hari Raya, it was everyone’s duty to make sure that the Covid-19 virus does not spread further.

“We have roadblocks at over 50 areas with more than 2,000 personnel deployed in turns throughout this season, ” he said.

He said there will be no compromise where obvious defiance of SOPs is concerned.

Hazani said apart from monitoring traffic and roads, police were also stationed at all shopping malls in the city to ensure that SOPs are observed in a bid to prevent the emergence of new Covid-19 clusters.