KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) President Datuk Muguntar Vanar has thanked Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for acting promptly on the appeal of Sabah journalists to work full time during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MC0) in the state.
He said the removal of the 12-hour (7am-7pm) working hour is the right step for the media.
“SJA thanked Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (The minister in charge of Covid-19 matters in Sabah) for acting promptly on the appeal of Sabah journalists,” he said in a statement.
Earlier today, Masidi, who is also State Local Government and Housing Minister, said the state government had agreed to allow journalists to work full time during the current MCO.
However, he said they have to comply
with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) set by the National Security Council and Health Ministry.
Masidi said the state government is cognisant of the important role played by the media in disseminating latest and accurate information to the masses.
On May 31, Masidi was quoted as saying that services in Sabah would only be allowed to operate from 7am to 7pm daily during the MCO
He said this includes food businesses, financial institutions, communications, professional services, construction and the manufacturing sector.
