By Olivia Miwil - October 15, 2020 @ 11:13am
SEMPORNA: Sabah marine police have taken a multi-pronged approach to ensure the maritime community comply with the Conditional Movement Control (CMCO) order to break the chain of Covid-19 infection.
Among them include working with other enforcement agencies, district officers and community leaders.
State marine police Region 4 commander Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Ariffin said the agency has been advising and channelling information about the situation through village chiefs and community leaders.
In ensuring effective communication during patrolling, the agency would use personnel familiar with the local dialect or brought along locals with them.
Apart from the fishing community trying to go out to the sea for food, they also need to handle the sea gypsies.
"In our efforts to stop the pandemic from worsening, we have to ensure there is no movement from the islands to the mainland.
"Therefore, we have to explain to them that they should abide by the CMCO," he told the New Straits Times.
Ahmad said since the Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order was implemented in the east coast of Sabah from Sept 28 to yesterday, marine police had made three arrests in Semporna and Lahad Datu.
"Our agency has managed to prevent fish bombings with the arrests of those involved in such activities.
"For now, it is under control as there are many assets at sea. Besides marine police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agencies, Navy, General Operations Force are also on the waters off east coast," he said.
As for staffing during the CMCO, Ahmad said the agency has adequate personnel but limited in terms of logistics as some of the patrol boats were in need of repairs.
He added that having to deal with the community in red zones was challenging for the frontliners, as they were always at risk of getting infected with Covid-19 despite following the standard operating procedures.
"Although preventive measures such as safe distancing has been applied, it is still risky when personnel have to conduct inspections," he said, adding personnel have been supplied with basic personal protective equipment to better protect them.
Ahmad said that apart from security, marine police were also involved in humanitarian missions with non-governmental organisations and the government in distributing aid for the people.
"In fact, we are also collecting funds among our personnel to help certain maritime communities (during this trying time)."
As of yesterday, Semporna had the highest active Covid-19 cases at 794, followed by Kota Kinabalu 669,Tawau 458, Sandakan 439 and Tuaran 313.
Overall, Sabah is still treating 3,242 Covid-19 patients and saw 43 deaths. There are only three green- zone districts - Nabawan, Telupid and Tongod.
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