KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans, particularly eatery operators, were left scratching their heads again after the latest SOPs released by the National Security Council (MKN) today failed to specifically mention whether dining-in is banned.
The SOPs were released on the eve of the state’s transition to Phase 2 of the national recovery plan (NRP) tomorrow.
Most restaurants in the state have been accepting dine-in customers after local authorities issued the green light following a previous announcement by chief minister Hajiji Noor.
The Phase 2 SOPs for Sabah state that restaurants, cafes, eateries, food stalls, food trucks, roadside and mobile stalls, among others, will be allowed to operate from 6am to 9pm by way of takeaways, drive-throughs or deliveries.
But unlike the Phase 2 SOPs released for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Penang, which specifically state that dine-ins are not allowed, the Sabah list does not make such a determination.
Dining-in is only allowed under Phase 3 of the NRP.
It is understood that the dining-in criteria was omitted from the list to cater to Sabah’s request, but this could not be confirmed immediately by FMT.
State local government and housing minister Masidi Manjun made no mention about the issue in his daily Covid-19 statement today, although he had said on Twitter earlier that the Phase 2 Sabah SOPs would be released tomorrow.
This suggests that the minister might make a special announcement over the issue.
FMT has reached out to Masidi for comments.
The issue has been hotly talked about in the state ever since Hajiji’s June 28 announcement allowing dine-ins in Sabah the following day.
Eateries duly allowed dine-in customers on June 29, but later that day, then senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob reminded all states to abide by the regulations fixed by MKN while the country was under the current lockdown.
Masidi then said the state had submitted a new set of SOPs for Phase 1 of the NRP to the federal government, which never responded to the request. - FMT
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