The Editorial Team
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Johnny Mositun calls on the state and federal governments to consider opening all sectors of businesses in the country and state.
Mositun was of the opinion that stricter Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) and enforcement during the Movement Control Order (MCO) that has been extended to Feb 18 will help to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
He pointed out that business sectors like the hair salons, spas and barbershops are suffering as they are not allowed to operate during the MCO.
“These business operators have been severely affected since the first MCO was implemented on March18 last year. While they were allowed to resume business during the CMCO and RMCO, everything is now back to square one with the MCO2.0,” the Limbahau PBS Chief lamented.
Mositun said the rakyat are well aware of the Covid-19 threat and will therefore ensure that their level of compliance to the SOP to stem the spread of the virus is high.
“Business operators will prioritize compliance of the SOP because they know how important it is to stop the spread of Covid-19,” said the former Deputy State Assembly Speaker.
Mositun also said that some of the affected business operators are in fact single parents and are thus the sole income earner of their family.
They also have monthly expenses like rental, utilities expenses and staff salary to pay, he pointed out.
“I fear that small businesses may not be able to survive this second round of MCO. If that happens, then our rakyat will suffer and we do not want that to happen,” he said.
Mositun added that the rakyat, has adapted to the new normal in their daily life as well as routine.
“Therefore the Government should trust and have confidence in the people that they will comply and adhere to the SOP,” he said after a briefing with Papar District Officer on Wednesday.
