Halt, who goes there?: Kg Kolopis residents ban outsiders from entering village

 By Olivia Miwil - June 11, 2021 @ 2:53pm

A banner is placed to warn outsiders from entering Kampung Kolopis. - Pic courtesy of Andrias A Jubily

PENAMPANG: As a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, a village here has taken the initiative to protect its residents by stopping outsiders, including relatives from entering Kampung Kolopis.

The Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) leader Andrias A Jubily said it was their own initiative to set up a banner to warn people that the villagers took the Covid-19 pandemic prevention measures seriously.

"Now due to the lockdown, people outside the village sometimes use the road here to avoid roadblocks to go to other districts.

"We are also worried about the ongoing construction workers for the Pan Borneo Highway project at the village," he told the New Straits Times, adding that there are about 3,000 people in the village.

When the committee put up the banner, Andrias said there were people who were against banning others from coming into the village, particularly relatives.

He reminded them that relatives from other places have the potential of causing a Covid-19 outbreak in the village as no one can be sure of their health status until it is too late.

Prior to the implementation of the lockdown, there was a cluster associated with a wedding at the village which had more than 10 people infected.

Except for delivery services, the village also discouraged mobile sellers from entering Kampung Kolopis.

"In terms of enforcing the entry ban, we have a WhatsApp group to communicate on any presence of outsiders which our committee members or I will take follow up actions.

"As one of the three JPKKs in the village, I have also asked the police to patrol our area for further security.

"I am also calling people from the seven sub-villages to give their cooperation to curb the pandemic," he added.

On May 31, Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun had said the state government via the Local Government and Housing Ministry had instructed village chiefs to be the "eyes and ears" for the government to curb the Covid-19 spread.

He had also said village heads had to inform respective authorities on the spread of Covid-19, deaths or if there were attempts to flout the standard operating procedures (SOP).