Sabah to implement MCO's 'fifth phase' in stages

By Olivia Miwil - May 7, 2020 @ 3:53pm

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (right) visits a paddy field in Terusan Sapi. Also present is State Agriculture and Food Industry minister Datuk Junz Wong (left) and Economic advisor to CM Datuk Yap Yun Fook. - BERNAMA pic

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will implement a "fifth phase" of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in stages starting today.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state took note of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which began on May 4 but would proceed with its own adjustments.

"The implementation of the fifth MCO will be done in stages starting May 7 subject to standard operating procedures (SOPs) by the Health Ministry.

"Among sectors that are allowed to operate at the initial stage include agriculture and food industry, manufacturing and logistics such as land, jetty and port," he said in a statement.

Mohd Shafie, who also the state finance minister, said the government had also decided to allow factories, plantations at Lahad Datu, Kunak and Kinabatangan to operate as long as their staff were free from Covid-19.

"Once again, the state government would like to emphasise that the safety and welfare of the people of Sabah is its main priority.

Sabah was one of the states that defied the CMCO in which almost all economic sectors were reopened.

Mohd Shafie had defended the state's move, saying it needed more time to reopen some sectors due to different conditions.

However, yesterday, the Chief Minister gave the green light for inter-district travel and allow a maximum of four people in a car.

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