Sabah sticks to ban on dining-in at eateries, says Masidi

 

A peninsula association has called for dining restrictions to be relaxed. (AP pic)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has no plans to allow dine-in in eateries, a state minister said in the wake of the federal government extending the operating hours for such businesses up to 10pm.

Masidi Manjun, the state spokesman on Covid-19 matters, said allowing dine-in will defeat the purpose of trying to limit movement of people during the MCO.

For the time being, Sabah will implement the rule requiring establishments and businesses selling cooked food to provide takeaway and drive-through services only.

“The issue is not about two people in one table but it’s about discouraging people from making trips to towns. We have already allowed two people in a car to buy essentials,” he said at his Covid-19 briefing today.

Yesterday, peninsular coffee shop owners had urged the government to allow dining-in with two to a table. Masidi said the state government has yet to receive such a request from Sabah eateries.

Besides eateries, he said fuel stations in Sabah are also allowed to open from 6am to 10pm.

Massage, entertainment centres not open

To a question on certain quarters claiming massage centres, establishments selling CDs and DVDs, and jewellery shops were allowed to operate despite the MCO, Masidi said first two were definitely not permitted to do so.

However, jewellery shops are allowed to open during the MCO as they are considered under the commerce and distribution sector. “Not everyone sells gold or jewellery in shops but many also do it through direct selling. It’s an important part of the economy,” he said.

On the entry of civil servants including teachers and policemen who are working or transferred to the state, he announced that these staff, among others, must furnish their transfer or placement letters on arrival in Sabah. - FMT