No barter boats allowed during lockdown

KOTA KINABALU: Barter trade boats between Sabah and neighbouring southern Philippines and Indonesia will not be allowed to operate during the two-week lockdown that begins today.

State Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that barter trade vessels (non-conventional ships) would not be able to leave or come to Sabah under the standard operating procedure for the movement control order.

He said Indonesian transport vessels bringing in fishery products to Sabah’s Tawau district will also be disallowed.

“Non-conventional ships from the Philippines that pass through Sabah waters to the Federal Territory of Labuan are also not allowed, ” he said in a statement.

However, Masidi said that passenger ferry services and passenger boats can operate at 50% capacity while vehicle ferry services will be allowed to operate at full capacity.

“Individuals on their own private boats to and from Labuan and the mainland are not allowed, ” he said when outlining the dos and don’ts for the state which had adopted the national MCO.

For islanders across Sabah using small boats, he said they would be allowed to move to and from the mainland between 6am and 6pm daily. However, they are also subject to the 50% capacity regulation.

Fishermen registered with the State Fisheries Department in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone will be allowed to carry out their activities between 6am and 2pm.