KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government has agreed to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the operation of express buses that carry passengers and goods throughout the state during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), effective tomorrow.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said among the SOPs to be complied with by express bus drivers and operators will be that the bus capacity would be limited to 50 per cent based on seats to ensure physical distancing is always maintained.
He said drivers and passengers should also undergo symptom screenings and temperature checks before boarding the bus. This is in addition to the use of face masks at all times, sanitisers, and also reducing interaction with other passengers on the bus.
“Drivers will be disallowed from working if they have symptoms (of COVID-19). In addition, the driver or bus operator also has the right to prevent passengers from boarding the bus if they (passengers) have symptoms. Drivers will also be asked to make periodic announcements on the wearing of face masks on the bus.
“Express bus operators can only pick up and drop off passengers at the terminal. Express buses are also not allowed to stop at any stop, including restaurants,” he said in a statement here today.
Masidi reminded every passenger crossing zones to get police permission first, and said the state government also encouraged the purchase of express bus tickets online or to use non-cash transaction cards such as the monthly pass concept and Touch ‘n Go application.
“Drivers and passengers are encouraged to use the QR Code app to register every time they use the bus service through the MySejahtera app or manually by writing their personal information and telephone number,” he said.
He said operators were also encouraged to disinfect the buses every two hours.
Meanwhile, Masidi, who is also the state government’s spokesperson for COVID-19, said a total of 71 new positive cases were recorded today, bringing the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in the state to 53,864.
He said 77 COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered in Sabah to 52,711.
A total of 1,494 individuals received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today, making a cumulative total of 22,464 recipients since the state-level National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme was launched on March 4, he added.
Compound applies to all SOP violations
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a related development meanwhile has said that the RM10,000 compound under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 applies to all categories of Movement Control Order (MCO).
This means that those in MCO, Conditional MCO and Recovery MCO areas could be issued a compound of RM10,000 if they violated the standard operating procedures (SOP).
“But (the public) should understand, the police action (issuing the compound) is based on the Emergency Ordinance and it is for the safety of the public,” he told reporters at the groundbreaking for the One Member One House (SASaR) project at Satria Residensi, Sungai Besi here today.
Ismail Sabri reiterated that the police did not have the power to reduce the amount of compound imposed and those who received the compound notice could make an appeal to the District Health Office.
