KOTA KINABALU: More Sabah local authorities are expected to allow dine-ins despite the federal reluctance to approve the state SOP for relaxation on some economic and social activities.

       So far, the Kota Kinabalu City, Sandakan Municipal Council and Kinabatangan District Council have allowed dine-ins.

       Kota Kinabalu Mayor Noorliza Alip said they were following the June 28 announcement made by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and would not issue compounds to eateries allowing dine-ins.

       Sandakan Municipal Council president Wong Foo Tin had earlier told Astro Awani that the directive by Hajiji was valid and that operations for dine-ins and the opening up of several other economic sectors were conducted using existing SOP.As for Kinabatangan, a circular by the Kinabatangan District Council on the relaxation of SOP, including dine-ins, was shared in various social media platforms.

       Sources said other local authorities were also assessing the Covid-19 situation in their respective districts before going ahead to allow dine-ins in accordance with the Sabah Covid-19 disaster management committee’s decision to relax the SOP.

       Last week, Hajiji announced that Sabah was allowing some economic activities to reopen with strict SOP, such as dine-ins for restaurants and eateries, barbershops, roadside stalls for vegetables, fish and fruits, starting June 29.

       He said no contact sports like exercising, golf, fishing and cycling would also be allowed.

       Manufacturing activities such as rubber, cement and paint, furniture and woodworks can operate, too.

       However, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said states should not have their own SOP and that the nation should just observe a standardised SOP to fight Covid-19.

       This triggered Sabah to use its own powers under the local ordinance to allow for dine-ins.

       While no official word has come for many of the other districts in the state, quite a number including Ranau, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Keningau have already gone ahead following Hajiji’s announcement.

       Police are still not commenting on this issue but the various enforcement officials could be seen walking around and making sure the standard SOP such as registration using the MySejahtera app, temperature checks and physical distancing of a metre apart are adhered to at the operating businesses.