'Officers got scolded as villagers want to meet chief minister'

SABAH POLLS | The Sabah government has taken a variety of measures to control the spread of Covid-19 in the state, even if some of the decisions have not been popular.

Recounting his experience at a village in the Tungku sub-district in Lahad Datu, caretaker Chief Minister Shafie Apdal (above) said his own staff had been scolded by the villagers for wanting to limit the number of participants in an event he attended.

Meanwhile, he said, the villagers came in large numbers to meet him personally.

"I went to Tungku area. I ask that it be controlled, not too many. And then after that came almost 1,000 people!"

"I asked my officer why almost 1,000? He said 'we were scolded by the villagers because (they) wanted to meet the chief minister'.

"I said it's okay, we must take care of safety first. If possible, we will hold (meetings for smaller groups). And I can meet them," said Shafie.

He added that he instructed the officer not to place all the event attendees in a single area as that would put them at risk of Covid-19.

He was speaking to reporters after attending a gathering at the Jamek Mosque in Kampung Bantayan Semporna, which was attended by staff of the Sabah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) and local religious leaders.

Before that, he also had time to perform Friday prayers and have lunch there.

Also present was JHEAINS Director Saifulzaman @ Setibin Sangul.

10 million masks distributed

Shafie said the state government did not take Covid-19 lightly, especially with the Benteng cluster which involves two districts in the state - Lahad Datu and Tawau.

He said the state government had supplied 10 million face masks as well as disinfectants to be distributed to villages and polling district centres in preparation for the state polls, while others were distributed at schools, supermarkets, and other locations.

"There were villages when I visited, (they complained) ‘Datuk Seri, it is difficult for us to buy (face masks), there are no shops in the villages and districts’.

“So I informed the state secretary and district officials to supply them (face masks). This is because some of their children go to school. This is to take care of their own safety," he added.

According to Shafie, he monitors Covid-19 cases in Sabah every day and receives reports on the outbreak twice a day - morning and night.

He said that, prior to this, when there were infections in Tawau, he held meetings with the state police chief, deputy state police chief, state health director, and other officers involved.

The virus spread in Sabah involved the Benteng cluster which was detected on Sept 1 from two illegal immigrants who were detained at the Lahad Datu District Police Headquarters (IPD) lockup on Aug 24.

The cluster was also detected spreading in Tawau Prison earlier this month.

Shafie said the transmission of Covid-19 in Sabah was under control despite a sharp increase in cases, as those involved in the cluster had been quarantined.

As of yesterday, there were three active Covid-19 clusters, namely the Benteng cluster, the Sungai cluster (Kedah/Penang/Perlis), and Telaga Cluster (Kedah/Penang).

To date, there are 250 positive cases in the Benteng cluster - including 167 confirmed today - with another 1,192 individuals still awaiting results.

Tomorrow is the nomination day for Sabah polls, while voting day for the 73 state seats up for grabs is scheduled for Sept 26. - Mkini