Its chairman Kenny Ho said the movement control order (MCO) had affected all sectors including the advertising business in Sabah.

He said its members have abided by the government’s directive that does not allow them to operate during the MCO.

“However, as a result of the cessation of operations, we have experienced various problems. These include overdue costs related to rental, salaries, unproductive transport costs and many more,” he said in a statement here.

“And because of these, we have suffered huge losses, to the extent that some of our members are probably going to close shop permanently.”

Ho was speaking during a courtesy call to local government and housing minister Masidi Manjun, who is also the Sabah Covid-19 spokesman, at the latter’s office here today.

Ho, who was accompanied by fellow association members, explained that the advertising industry is an important industry, adding their inability to operate will cause other related fields to not be able to function as well.

“For example, the food industry will have no labels while hospitals, as well as the government and private sectors will not have posters or signboards, such as the vaccination instruction notices.

“In addition, government projects also need to have safety awareness billboards (among others),” he said.

He added that Sabah had even allowed dining-in and many other economic sectors to operate under Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan.

“Therefore, on behalf of the 80 association members, we are appealing to the Sabah government to give special permission for us to resume operations in compliance with strict SOPs set by the government and the health ministry,” Ho said.