New Emco Rules Allow Sabahans To Leave Area To Run Errands

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COVID-19 | The National Security Council (NSC) has agreed to amend regulations for areas under the enhanced movement control order (MCO) in Sabah, said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said although sundry shops in enhanced MCO areas are allowed to operate, residents in the area still face problems in withdrawing cash and obtaining basic necessities that are not found in their locality.
Under the new rules, Ismail said a representative from each household may leave the enhanced MCO area with permission from the police.

This is specifically to withdraw cash from banks and ATMs or to purchase basic necessities such as milk, disposable diapers, detergent, medicine, and so on.

In addition, markets are allowed to operate in enhance MCO areas twice a week from 6am to 2pm.

“However, this amendment is not applicable to prisons and temporary detention centres in Sabah,” he said today, adding that the decision was reached following advice from the Health Ministry.
Previously, it was reported that about 50 residents at the Taman Semarak enhanced MCO area in Tawau held a demonstration on Oct 29 over the lack of access to food and supplies. 


The area with 4,000 households is under enhanced MCO from Oct 26 to Nov 8 following a spike in Covid-19 cases.
In response to the protest, the government expanded the Taman Semarak enhanced MCO area to include one row of shops and introduced new rules on goods delivery and food vendors.
However, Taman Semarak is only one of many places in Sabah under enhanced MCO.
Meanwhile, Ismail announced that the Health Ministry Training Institute (ILKKM) in Johor Bahru will be placed under enhanced MCO.
Thus far, he said 46 people have tested positive for Covid-19 out of 1,515 people tested.
“Upon advice from the Health Ministry to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the locality, the (NSC) special meeting today has agreed to implement an enhanced MCO at the ILKKM in Johor Bahru from Nov 3 to Nov 16.
“The enhanced MCO involves 1,559 people including ILKKM trainees, staff and family members, and support staff,” he said.
Ismail said the NSC has also agreed to extend the enhanced MCO at the Kepayan Prison in Kota Kinabalu, including its staff quarters at Taman Mat Salleh, Kg Matambai.
The enhanced MCO there started from Oct 20 and was slated to end at midnight tonight, but was extended for another 14 days instead, to Nov 16.
There are 1,671 confirmed Covid-19 cases detected in the area out of 3,509 people tested, he said, including prisoners, officers, staff, and their family members.
Meanwhile, the enhanced MCO for Kg Saguking Laut and Kg Sebor Baru in Labuan will end at midnight tonight, as scheduled.
Ismail said the Health Ministry has found that the number of Covid-19 cases in the area has dropped and is now under control.
“However, both localities are still subject to the conditional MCO that is still in force in Labuan,” he added. - Mkini

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