KOTA KINABALU: Political leaders are backing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s announcement to relax the movement control and standard operating procedure in the state with most telling Putrajaya that Sabah knows best.

       Sabah Umno, Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) are urging the Federal Government to respect the state decision, a day after Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Sabah should follow the national SOP and not make its own rules.

       Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the state should do what it required as it has been managing Covid-19 better than elsewhere.

       “That is why we should have our own way of handling things. If we want to follow them (the national SOP), we will have more Covid-19 cases.

       “Up till now, we have handled it best. They should follow us,” he said adding that the state Cabinet had endorsed the decision to allow dine-in.

       Jeffrey, who is Deputy Chief Minister, explained that the SOP for dine-in at coffee shops and restaurants was easier to implement than for kenduri in villages where it was hard to control the guests.

       Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said Putrajaya should look into Sabah’s request on relaxing the SOP positively as it was based on daily Covid-19 trends and overall transmission rate.

       Bung Moktar, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said it was important for more business sectors to operate as Sabah’s economy needed to start moving again.

       “I am sure if the relaxing of certain SOP would cause cases to spike, the state government would not have agreed to it.”

       PBS secretary-general Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the decision was based on the safety and health of the people and reviving the economy.

       “The question of whether the Federal Government needs to listen to Sabah’s request does not arise.

       “This is because federal departments and agencies including police, health and the National Security Council sit in the State Covid-19 disaster management committee.”

       On Monday, Hajiji announced that dine-in for restaurants and eateries, barbershops, roadside stalls for vegetables, fish and fruits were allowed under the state’s Phase One of the National Recovery Plan beginning Tuesday.

       Non-contact sports like exercising, golf, fishing and cycling were allowed while manufacturing activities such as rubber, cement and paint, furniture and woodworks would be reopened soon.

       On Tuesday, coffee shops began allowing dine-ins but switched back to takeaways only after they were told to wait for the clarification on the SOP.

       Some believed the announcement was premature as the state Covid-19 committee had unanimously supported the relaxation of certain SOP but did not inform the National Security Council.