Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said the national recovery plan would allow only for the partial reopening of economic sectors if fewer than 4,000 Covid-19 cases are recorded daily.
“In our opinion, the state government should take a different approach as Sabah’s situation is improving in comparison to other states,” they said in a statement yesterday.
Chan and Phoong said Sabah has seen a decline in new infections over the last three days and recorded fewer than 200 cases daily.
They said the state government must act according to the local situation instead of waiting for the rest of the country, where it is still unclear if the total lockdown would end after Monday.
“The Sabah government must take a few crucial factors into consideration while planning the state’s own recovery plan. The plan must clearly state which sectors are allowed to reopen in every phase with strict SOPs,” they said.
They said the state government should look into allowing dine-ins after Monday instead of only takeaways.
Sabah Employers Association (SEA) president Yap Cheen Boon also said the national recovery plan is irrelevant as far as the state is concerned.
He noted that Phase 1 of the plan – the total lockdown to address the worsening pandemic situation – imposed almost one month ago has been harsh on the economy.
“The measurables of the plan are strict on saving lives – number of cases, intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy and percentage of innocuous citizens – but it is lost on propping up livelihoods,” he said in a statement.
“We urge the state government to adopt a different approach, now that Sabah has embarked on a mass statewide vaccination exercise. Barring no shortage of vaccines, more Sabahans will soon be inoculated.
“SEA believes that instead of waiting for Phase 2’s measurables to be met and implemented, the state government should adapt the plan to suit Sabah’s context.
“Initiate ‘Phase 1.5’ after June 28 where all businesses are allowed to open, but with strict SOPs to be enforced without recourse by authorities.”
Yap said waiting for Phase 2 will be too restrictive as only a few more industries are allowed to open.
He said proven SOPs that work are limited workforce numbers, restricted operating hours, controlled inter-district travel and minimised social interactions such as no dine-ins.
“This will see resuscitated economic activities concurrent with mass vaccinations,” he said.