KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government has imposed immigration restriction order to non-Sabahan residents and tourists, effective tomorrow.
In a statement issued by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Malaysians who are not from Sabah are not allowed entry via air, sea, or land unless with special approval from the state government.
Visitors from Sarawak and the Peninsula wishing to enter Sabah are also required to provide medical certificates from hospitals to prove that they are not infected with Covid-19.
Sabahans are also banned from travelling abroad, while all foreign tourists and visitors are banned from entering the state.
“For those who have just returned from abroad, they are required to conduct a medical check and do 14-day self-quarantine," he said today.
Shafie also said the state government was complying with the restricted movement control order announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and is enforcing ban on mass gatherings as well as movements throughout Sabah.
He also said all places of worship, business premises, schools, and higher learning institutions are to be closed except for supermarkets, public markets, grocery stores and departmental stores that sell daily essential goods.
While only certain sectors that provide essential services under government and private are to remain open, Shafie said several public services under the state government would also continue operating to keep the state administration running smoothly.
He said four departments and offices under the Chief Minister’s Department would remain open subject to further instructions.
They are the forestry department (enforcement); land and survey department (enforcement); internal affairs and research office (security control, disaster operation centre, and oil and gas division); and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (enforcement, licensing, engineering, solid waste, health, landscape, and finance division).
Matters regarding payment management remain as usual under the state treasurer department; state computer services department; and account, budget, and procurement of the Ministry of Finance division.
Shafie also said business as usual for all enforcement, licensing, maintenance and monitoring tasks under the eight state ministries.
The ministries are Tourism, Culture, and Environment; Local Government and Housing; Health and People’s Wellbeing; Agriculture and Food Industry; Trade and Industrial; Infrastructure Development; Laws and Native Affairs; and Education and Innovation.
The state government has also activated the state and district disaster committee’s command centre since March 12.
“The state government hopes for the state health department to continue providing updated and detailed data on Covid-19 outbreak so that immediate measures can be taken,” Shafie said.