Sabah wants firm enforcement of SOPs amid rising cases

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wants enforcement agencies to step up operations against non compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the state sees a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the enforcement agencies must be, "consistent and persistent in the enforcement of SOPs as it was needed to combat sudden rise in cases across the state.

"Enforcement agencies need to be more proactive and not just react after complaints are made.

"Unfortunately Malaysians have the habit of being ‘seasonal’ in both," he said when asked if the state would be planning control inter-district movement within the state.

He said that the state had no plans to implement restrictions on inter district movements as the exercise would not only be futile as every district was reporting cases.

"Restriction in inter district movement would be an exercise in futility. (And) restrictions on inter district movement would be near catastrophic to our efforts to revive economic activities," he added.

Masidi said that restrictions on inter-district movement were introduced previously because vaccines were not available and even after vaccination had started Sabah had a low vaccination rate.

"The better way is to continue educating the public the need for self discipline by continuously and consistently observing all SOP and health advice," he said urging enforcement to be persistent and consistent in the enforcement of all SOPs.

As of Friday (Feb 4), the state recorded 909 new cases, the highest daily figure since Sept 30 last year.

Sixteen educational institution clusters were detected in Sabah since January this year.

The state government on Jan 29 had ordered all schools and colleges with clusters to temporarily close and re-open on the advice of the Health Department.