Sabah managing Covid-19 better than elsewhere, says Sabah DCM

 By Olivia Miwil - June 30, 2021 @ 5:25pm

Sabah has managed the Covid-19 pandemic better than others, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. -NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has managed the Covid-19 pandemic better than others, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

When commenting on Sabah's decision to relax some of the standard operating procedures (SOP) for Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan, he said the state has its own way in governing its people and its state.

"We should follow the standard SOP in accordance with what is required in Sabah. It is because we are (the one) managing Covid-19 here better than elsewhere.

"Therefore, why should we not have our own way of handling things? (If) we want to follow them, we will have more Covid-19 (cases).

"The way we are handling it is the best way at the moment. They (others) should follow us," said Jeffrey, who is Keningau member of parliament and Tambunan assemblyman.

After the state election last year, Sabah had one of the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country. However, its committee handling the pandemic, relevant authorities and people have managed to put the number under control.

Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general Datuk Joniston Bangkuai also supported Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's and the state government's decision to go its own way in dealing with the pandemic.

"PBS is confident that the federal government understands what is good and necessary for Sabah as the decision was made at the Sabah Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee-level, which comprise federal government agencies such as the police, health (department) and National Security Council.

"PBS believes, prior to making the decision, the state government had made evaluations especially in terms of the people's safety and ways to revive the economy," Joniston said in a separate statement.

On Monday, Hajiji had announced several social and economic activities including dine-in, barber shops and roadside stalls selling vegetables, fish and fruits would be allowed to resume in Sabah beginning Tuesday.

Also allowed in Sabah now are certain non-physical contact activities, as well as more activities in the manufacturing sector.

However, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob responded to it on Tuesday, and said no state should make its own set of SOP while the country is still observing the Movement Control Order (MCO) under Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

Sabah is now awaiting for its set of announced SOP to be gazetted by the federal government.