TAWAU – Tawau looks deserted as the implementation of the 14-day Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) entered its second day Sept 30, with fewer vehicles on the road compared to normal days.
Checks by Bernama found that only a few important business premises were operating until 6 pm and some residents even felt that the situation was not much different from the time the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced in March.
A resident of Bandar Sri Indah, Muhd Anuar Irwan, 31, said although he was shocked by the implementation of TEMCO, he and his family have accepted it with an open mind, knowing that it’s meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the district.
“This is for the good of all. The situation here is all good and daily necessities are also sufficient. So far, no panic purchases have been made. We just need to comply with the standard operating instructions and procedures (SOP) set by the authorities,” he told Bernama.
On Monday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the implementation of TEMCO from Sept 29 to Oct 12 in four districts, namely Tawau, Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu involving 962,661 residents.
Meanwhile, supermarket employee Putli Kabungsuan Marajaw or Puteri said there was a bit of panic buying after the TEMCO was announced on Monday but the situation has returned to normal.
Apart from that, the Information Department here is also actively disseminating information on SOP compliance through the Info On Wheel programme using speakers in urban and rural areas.
In LAHAD DATU, the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) detected 70 illegal immigrant hotspots around the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), where control needs to be tightened during the TEMCO period.
ESSCom Commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman, when contacted, said the hotspots included settlements on the islands and that operations to detect and arrest illegal immigrants in the area were being carried out with the assistance of the Malaysian Armed Forces and the General Operations Force.
–BERNAMA
